The planned deliveries follow closer cooperation between ANA and Boeing, with the Japanese carrier deploying its own inspectors to the manufacturer’s production facility to ensure that aircraft meet its technical and operational requirements before handover.
ANA’s entry into the 737 MAX fleet comes as other Japanese airlines expand their use of the aircraft. Skymark Airlines received Japan’s first Boeing 737-8 in April 2026, with the aircraft arriving at Tokyo Haneda Airport on May 4, while Japan Airlines has ordered 38 of the same model, with deliveries planned during fiscal 2026 and passenger operations expected to begin in fiscal 2027.
The developments underscore the growing importance of quality assurance as Boeing seeks to increase aircraft production and restore confidence following a series of manufacturing and safety concerns in recent years.
ANA Deploys Inspectors to Boeing Factory
ANA is strengthening its oversight of aircraft manufacturing by sending inspectors to Boeing’s 737 MAX production facility in Renton, Washington, approximately three months before each aircraft is scheduled for delivery.
Although pre-delivery inspections are standard industry practice, ANA’s decision to station personnel at the manufacturer’s facility gives its specialists an opportunity to monitor production more closely and identify potential defects before the aircraft enters service.
According to a report by Nikkei Asia, ANA had 319 inspectors across the company as of October 1, 2025, including three stationed at Boeing’s Renton facility. The report also discussed the airline’s plan to deploy up to 42 Boeing 737-8 aircraft.
Boeing’s public announcement in 2022 documented an order for 20 aircraft, with options for 10 additional units. The reported figure of 42 aircraft therefore reflects a broader fleet plan rather than the order announced at that time.
ANA’s inspectors assess completed aircraft against the airline’s specifications and examine whether the required manufacturing standards have been met.
Explaining the importance of direct oversight, one inspector said: “I physically go to the manufacturing site myself and verify with my own eyes that the aircraft are being built to specifications.”
The monitoring process does not end when an aircraft leaves the factory. ANA continues to observe aircraft performance during operations and communicates identified quality concerns to Boeing. Such feedback can help the manufacturer investigate defects, refine assembly procedures and consider design modifications where necessary.
The approach provides an additional layer of customer scrutiny, although Boeing remains responsible for manufacturing quality and ensuring that aircraft conform to approved designs.
Boeing Intensifies Manufacturing Quality Measures
Boeing’s quality improvement efforts follow years of heightened scrutiny of its 737 MAX programme, particularly after two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019 claimed 346 lives.
Investigations into the accidents identified technical and operational failures that prompted aviation regulators worldwide to ground the aircraft while Boeing made modifications and addressed safety concerns.
Further questions about the manufacturer’s production controls emerged in January 2024, when a door plug detached from a Boeing 737-9 operated by Alaska Airlines during a flight. Investigators subsequently found that four bolts required to secure the door plug were missing.
The National Transportation Safety Board later identified shortcomings in employee training, guidance and oversight as important factors contributing to the incident.
In response, Boeing slowed production and introduced additional measures aimed at improving manufacturing consistency. The initiatives included expanded employee training, reviews of assembly procedures and changes to production and component-management processes.
The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also imposed restrictions on Boeing’s production rate while the company worked to address quality concerns.
In October 2025, the FAA and Boeing agreed to increase the permitted 737 production rate from 38 to 42 aircraft monthly following a review of production performance indicators.
In July 2026, the FAA allowed Boeing to resume issuing airworthiness certificates for newly produced 737 MAX and 787 aircraft after eight months of data showed consistent production quality. The decision returned certificate-issuing responsibility to Boeing under continued FAA oversight, without removing the regulator’s broader safety and compliance responsibilities.
Training, Continuous Improvement at Renton
Boeing has also expanded practical training and employee assessments at its Renton facility, where workers are expected to demonstrate their understanding of revised procedures and assembly requirements.
The training initiatives are designed to reinforce correct manufacturing practices and improve employees’ ability to identify potential defects before aircraft leave the production line.
The manufacturer has incorporated elements of kaizen, a continuous-improvement approach associated with Toyota’s production system. The method encourages workers to identify problems, review existing procedures and implement incremental improvements to quality and efficiency.
Boeing is also simplifying selected production processes and improving component management to reduce the likelihood of assembly errors.
These measures are particularly important in aircraft manufacturing, where an omitted installation step or inadequate inspection can compromise the safety and reliability of a completed aircraft.
ANA’s factory inspections complement these efforts by providing an independent customer perspective on whether aircraft meet the airline’s requirements before delivery. Continued monitoring after handover also gives Boeing an additional channel through which operational concerns can be reported and investigated.
Boeing Expands Production Capacity
Beyond its quality improvement programme, Boeing is working to increase 737 MAX production to meet demand from airlines and address an order backlog extending into the next decade.
The company is targeting a production rate of 47 aircraft monthly at Renton. However, Boeing Chief Executive Officer Kelly Ortberg said in September 2026 that production had yet to stabilise consistently at that level.
In another major development, Boeing opened its new North Line at its Everett, Washington, facility in July 2026, introducing 737 MAX assembly at the site for the first time.
The facility is expected to begin with low-rate initial production, allowing workers to validate manufacturing procedures, make necessary adjustments and establish quality standards before output increases.
The additional production line is intended to expand capacity and reduce reliance on a single facility. Hector Silva, head of quality for Boeing Commercial Airplanes, has highlighted the company’s efforts to distribute production across multiple locations rather than concentrate manufacturing activity in one plant.
Boeing’s reported backlog of more than 4,000 aircraft, alongside 737 MAX orders extending production into the 2030s, illustrates the scale of demand facing the manufacturer.
However, the challenge is not simply to produce more aircraft. Boeing must also maintain consistent assembly procedures, effective employee training and reliable quality controls as production volumes rise.
Japanese Airlines Pursue Fleet Renewal
The Boeing 737 MAX family comprises narrow-body aircraft designed primarily for short- and medium-haul operations. Depending on the model and cabin configuration, the aircraft family can accommodate approximately 100 to 200 passengers.
The aircraft have attracted interest from both low-cost operators and established airlines seeking fuel-efficient options for domestic and regional routes. Advances in engine performance and airframe design have also improved the range of modern single-aisle aircraft, allowing airlines to operate more routes without necessarily deploying larger wide-body jets.
For ANA, the planned introduction of the 737-8 forms part of its fleet renewal strategy. The aircraft is expected to provide additional capacity for domestic services while supporting the gradual replacement of older narrow-body aircraft.
Other Japanese carriers are pursuing similar fleet modernisation plans. Skymark has already received its first 737-8, while Japan Airlines intends to introduce its ordered aircraft into passenger service from fiscal 2027.
ANA’s planned deliveries therefore form part of a broader shift towards newer-generation narrow-body aircraft in Japan’s aviation market.
The timing also places renewed attention on Boeing’s ability to meet delivery commitments while maintaining the quality standards expected by major international carriers.
737-10 Certification Remains Separate
Boeing’s efforts to secure certification for the larger 737-10 have faced delays, although the programme is separate from ANA’s planned introduction of the 737-8.
In July 2026, Boeing completed the final planned certification flight tests for the 737-10 after 976 flights and more than 2,060 flight hours. The programme subsequently moved towards completing outstanding technical reviews and submitting the necessary documentation to the FAA.
In September 2026, Boeing said certification was expected soon, while acknowledging that production stabilisation remained a work in progress.
ANA has maintained that the delay involving the 737-10 is unrelated to the 737-8 aircraft it expects to receive and does not directly affect its incoming deliveries.
The distinction is significant because the two models belong to the same aircraft family but have separate certification requirements and development timelines.
Quality Assurance to Shape Future Deliveries
ANA’s inspection programme highlights the growing role airlines can play in monitoring the quality of newly manufactured aircraft before accepting delivery.
By placing inspectors at Boeing’s production facility, examining aircraft against its own specifications and continuing to report operational concerns after delivery, the airline is seeking to strengthen confidence in the aircraft entering its fleet.
For Boeing, the priority remains balancing production growth with consistent manufacturing quality, particularly as it expands operations across Renton and Everett to meet strong demand.
The effectiveness of these efforts will depend on the consistent application of assembly procedures, comprehensive employee training, robust inspection systems and sustained regulatory oversight.
As ANA prepares to receive its first 737-8 aircraft, the deliveries will represent not only a new phase in the airline’s fleet development but also a test of Boeing’s progress in restoring manufacturing confidence and demonstrating that increased production can be achieved without compromising safety and quality.