New York, Feb 17, 2026, 14:33 ET — Regular session
Boeing (BA) rebounded to $244.60, up 0.7% in afternoon trade Tuesday, after saying Air Astana from Kazakhstan locked in a deal for as many as 15 787 Dreamliners. Earlier, the stock was off by as much as 1.6%. 1
Boeing’s backlog grows with Air Astana’s 787 order—another widebody, or twin-aisle, jet built for long-haul routes. For investors chasing clearer evidence that demand is translating into consistent deliveries, every new name on the list counts.
Boeing handed over 46 jets in January and secured 103 net new orders, outpacing Airbus on both counts, according to Reuters last week. Planemakers see most of their revenue come in when aircraft are delivered. 2
Airbus handed over 19 jets and landed 49 gross orders in January, according to the European planemaker’s latest figures. The big two—Airbus and Boeing—continue to rule the large-jet segment, as carriers have filled their order books with contracts stretching years out. 3
Back in November, Air Astana outlined a deal for five firm 787-9 jets, plus another five as options and five purchase rights, with deliveries of the new aircraft set for 2032 through 2035. CEO Peter Foster described the first 787-9, scheduled to join the fleet next year, as kicking off what he called an “exciting phase of development” for the airline. 4
Boeing has started offering upgrades for its 787-9 and 787-10 models, aiming to boost maximum takeoff weight. That change would allow carriers to extend range by about 400 miles or haul more cargo, according to a senior executive who spoke with Reuters earlier this month. “Those aircraft are actually already in the production system,” said Darren Hulst, Boeing’s vice president of commercial marketing. He anticipates the first of these enhanced jets will be delivered in the first half of 2026. 5
The company is banking on that delivery ramp to lift its cash position. Back in January, chief financial officer Jay Malave told analysts he was looking for $1 billion to $3 billion in positive free cash flow this year, contingent on certification and any potential holdups. Free cash flow refers to cash left over after capital expenditures. Third Bridge’s Peter McNally wrote at the time that Boeing was on its “firmest footing” since its troubles started in 2018. 6
Boeing told investors it’s rolling out 42 737 MAX jets a month, while the 787 line is moving toward eight per month. The backlog? More than 6,100 airplanes. Altogether, the total order book stands at $567 billion, according to the company. 7
Still, headline orders aren’t guaranteed to move the needle right away. Options get reworked; new manufacturing hiccups or a regulatory move could once again crimp delivery goals and delay cash flow.
Investors are tracking whether the Air Astana order makes it into Boeing’s monthly orders-and-deliveries numbers, and waiting for any fresh details on the 777X program. Boeing is targeting April for the debut flight of a production 777X, according to Reuters—a milestone for the long-delayed jet. 8
