New York, Jan 30, 2026, 13:15 ET — Regular session
- Boeing shares down about 1.4% in midday trade, extending a week-end pullback
- Air India ordered 30 737 MAX jets, exercising options as it rebuilds its fleet
- Investors stay focused on delivery pace and key certifications, not headline orders
Boeing shares fell again on Friday, down about 1.4% at $230.70 in midday trade, as a fresh aircraft order failed to steady sentiment. The broader market was also weaker, with the S&P 500 ETF down about 0.6%.
The move matters because Boeing’s stock has been priced for a steadier operational rhythm — more deliveries, fewer surprises, cleaner execution. When the shares slide on order headlines, it signals investors are still hunting for proof that the production and certification pipeline can hold.
Air India on Thursday ordered 30 Boeing narrowbody jets — single-aisle aircraft — buying 20 737 MAX 8s and 10 737 MAX 10s, Reuters reported. The airline said the purchase lifts its total Boeing orders to 250 aircraft, and the deal exercises existing options. (Reuters)
Air India CEO Campbell Wilson called the order “part of our broader fleet strategy,” while Boeing sales executive Paul Righi said the deal underscored the performance of Air India’s existing 737-8 fleet. (MediaRoom)
Orders are still coming elsewhere, too. Aviation Capital Group ordered 50 Boeing MAX jets this month, split between the 737-8 and 737-10, and its CEO Tom Baker said he was “very confident” the MAX 10 will be certified this year, while adding that “banking on the government is always a tricky thing.” (Reuters)
Boeing’s drop on Friday tracked a softer tone across aerospace and defense. The iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF was down about 0.8% in midday trade.
For Boeing investors, the push and pull is familiar: orders point to demand, but cash tends to follow deliveries, and deliveries depend on production flow and regulators signing off on key variants. Options being exercised also temper the “new business” punch, even if they firm up backlog.
The risk is that the stock’s sensitivity cuts both ways. Any slip in certification timing, supplier quality, or factory tempo can quickly swamp upbeat order updates, especially after a strong run earlier in the month.
Traders will be watching for more commercial announcements out of Wings India in Hyderabad through Jan. 31, where airlines and manufacturers have been using the event to put fleet plans in public. (Gov)
