New York, January 30, 2026, 20:43 EST — The market has closed.
- Boeing shares dipped 0.1% on Friday, ahead of the U.S. market closure through Monday
- Air India ordered 30 Boeing 737 MAX jets, with the deal including the bigger 737-10 model
- Attention shifts to certification timing and new order updates in the coming week
Boeing shares slipped 0.1% to $233.72 on Friday as the U.S. market closed for the weekend. Investors weighed new jet order news from India alongside a modest U.S. defense contract.
Boeing’s steady stream of deals keeps momentum alive, but the real challenge lies in execution. Orders are promising, but cash only hits the books once planes are delivered and customers pay up, plus regulatory green lights for new models to carry passengers.
After years of production hiccups, airlines and lessors remain desperate for delivery slots, piling up a backlog of planes sold but not yet handed over that extends deep into the decade. This squeeze on supply bolsters pricing power and makes any manufacturing delay even more costly.
Air India announced an order for 30 more 737 MAX jets, mostly single-aisle planes for short- and medium-haul routes. The deal includes 20 737-8s and 10 larger 737-10s, exercising existing options. Campbell Wilson described it as “part of our broader fleet strategy,” while Boeing’s Paul Righi said it “underscores the strong performance” of Air India’s current 737-8 fleet. (Boeing)
Air India has shifted part of its Airbus A321neo order to 15 A321XLR jets, Reuters reported, with deliveries slated for 2029 and 2030. The announcement came during an air show in Hyderabad, marking Air India as the second Indian airline after IndiGo to invest in the long-range single-aisle model. This move also brings Air India’s total Boeing orders up to 250. (Reuters)
On the defense front, Boeing announced it will produce four additional MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopters for the U.S. Air Force, including related sustainment services. This latest award pushes the contract’s total value beyond $262 million. “The quick succession of contracts demonstrates” the Air Force’s rapid pace, noted Azeem Khan. (MediaRoom)
At a Dublin event, aircraft leasing executives noted that hefty backlogs at Boeing and Airbus are allowing lessors to secure much of the new-jet supply well into the next decade. This dynamic is keeping lease rates and resale values firm, despite political and market turbulence rattling investors. Aviation Capital Group CEO Tom Baker described the sector as “shockingly stable,” pointing to the scarcity of available planes as putting “guardrails around the cycle.” (Reuters)
Baker’s firm has been active on the buying front. Aviation Capital Group, part of Tokyo Century Corp, placed an order this month for 50 Boeing MAX jets. He expressed confidence that the larger MAX 10 model will get certified before year-end. “Banking on the government is always a tricky thing,” he told Reuters, adding that ACG stepped back from bidding on Macquarie AirFinance as the competition intensified. (Reuters)
The certification timeline remains a key wildcard for Boeing stock. Any new delays in production quality checks or in approving new variants could push back deliveries and tighten cash flow, particularly affecting MAX models that drive near-term production.
The Air India deal highlights the intense competition with Airbus in rapidly expanding markets. Investors are focused on whether airlines continue to favor bigger single-aisle jets like the MAX 10, and if Boeing can follow through on signed contracts with actual deliveries.
Markets are closed, but traders are eyeing Monday for any regulatory updates on the MAX 10 from the Federal Aviation Administration and watching to see if order flow will push delivery schedules tighter.
Next week, the Singapore Airshow kicks off, running from Feb. 3-8. This event often sparks aircraft orders and fleet announcements. Big deals announced there could shape Boeing shares once trading resumes. (Boeing Global Services)
