United States aircraft manufacturer Boeing is currently on a hiring campaign, with the manufacturer adding up to 140 workers a week. This comes at a time when the jetmaker sees an increasing number of retirees, as well as demand for more staffing to support the production rates of the Boeing 737, 787, and 777.

This is the highest recruitment numbers that Boeing has seen since 2024, and while the manufacturer already has a 34,000-strong workforce, it looks to add more workers to the Seattle area production lines. Primarily, the plane maker needs to boost production at its North Line, one of the production lines for the Boeing 737 MAX.

Boeing Adding Up To 140 Workers A Week

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In an exclusive Reuters report, Boeing said it is seeing strong interest in applications and that, across the business, the production rate continues to increase. While the demand remains high for its popular selling 737 MAX and 787 Dreamliner, the plane maker also needs additional support for the production and eventual certification of the long-awaited 777X.

While Boeing is well known for its military and commercial airframes, the manufacturer is also looking to expand its satellite production facility, including the launch of a new satellite platform. Boeing is already on track to deliver up to 26 satellites this year, an increase of 4 from 2025.

The demand for more fuel-efficient jets, and a rise in defense spending evident by ongoing geopolitical tension around the globe, has driven the demand for aerospace companies to improve productivity and output. This has now led Boeing to add hundreds of new employees each month.

More Mechanics Needed At Boeing

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Since the COVID-19 Pandemic, the wider aerospace industry has struggled with a shortfall of skilled workers. This has led to the Boeing apprenticeship program ramping up, which trains and develops workers with specialized skills, including composite repairs. Jon Holden, who recently took on the role of vice president, specialized training and apprenticeships at the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), commented on the hiring increase.

“It will be, you know, those who have to bring parts, ​logistics, and storage. It’s going to be tooling, it’s going to be you know, transportation. This is more, I think, a sustained ramp that I feel good about, as long as the economy continues to go, as ​long as airlines continue to keep their orders.”

Currently, according to the Aviation Technician Education Council, around 75% of FAA-authorized mechanics have come from specialized schools. This has driven continued demand for improved apprenticeship programs that will entice individuals from other sectors. Boeing itself has expanded its apprenticeship program, with the number of enrolled apprentices in 2024 agreed to be 125.

This latest recruitment campaign still trails the plane makers’ aggressive hiring blast between 2023 and 2024, which followed the COVID-19 pandemic and the wake of two deadly 737 MAX crashes.

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Boeing Expecting A Positive Cash Flow In 2026 Thanks To Increased Deliveries

The American aerospace giant is back in the black.

More Boeing Than Airbus Delivered In Q1 2026

Credit: Boeing

For the first time since the MAX crisis surfaced in 2018, Boeing has finally won the race in terms of orders and deliveries. In the first quarter of 2026 (January to March), Boeing has an edge ahead of European competitor Airbus, with 143 commercial aircraft deliveries. This is a 29-frame advantage against Airbus, which achieved just 114. For Boeing, this represents 10% year-on-year growth, while for Airbus, it sees a 16% decline in the same period in 2025.

This positive result for Boeing comes as a sign of relief, as the persistent 737 performance continues to push ahead, and in the shadows of the Pratt & Whitney engine drama, which has hampered Airbus with supply chain problems. This first quarter highlights Boeing’s overwhelmingly successful 737 MAX program, where, in this first quarter alone, 114 aircraft were delivered, 80% of the 143 aircraft total. Boeing aircraft delivery details below:

For Airbus, this less-than-ideal figure comes at a time when the European plane maker needs to stall deliveries of the A320neo and A321neo aircraft, as more than 40% of its global A320 fleet is powered by Pratt & Whitney engines. This has heavily affected Airbus’ 2026 delivery goals, as reflected in these latest results.