(Reuters) - Boeing ( BA ) said on Tuesday it delivered 40 commercial jets in August, up five from the same month in 2023 when it struggled with a manufacturing defect on its 737 MAX, as the U.S. planemaker eyes higher output under new CEO Kelly Ortberg.

Boeing ( BA ) has pledged to boost production of its strongest selling jet, the MAX, to 38 per month by year's end.

But the planemaker faces obstacles such as a possible strike as early as Friday by more than 32,000 Seattle-area and Portland factory workers who vote on a new deal Sept. 12.

The U.S. planemaker is operating a slower assembly line since a Jan. 5 in-flight blowout of a door plug on a 737 MAX 9 jet that heightened regulatory scrutiny.

Boeing ( BA ) handed over 32 MAX jets to customers last month, including nine deliveries to customers in China, the most since December 2019.

Boeing ( BA ) delivered 43 commercial jets in July, including 31 MAX jets.

Investors closely watch delivery numbers, as airplane makers receive the majority of payment for an aircraft when it is transferred to a customer.

After adjustments to reflect the backlog, Boeing ( BA ) reported adjusted net orders for the month of 24.

That brought Boeing's ( BA ) gross order total so far this year through August 31 to 250. After removing cancellations and conversions, Boeing ( BA ) posted a net total of 207 orders since the start of 2024.

Following further accounting adjustments, Boeing ( BA ) reported adjusted net orders of 122 airplanes so far this year.

Year to date through August 31, Boeing ( BA ) delivered 258 airplanes, including 198 MAX jets.

European rival Airbus said last week it had delivered 47 aircraft in August, down from 77 in July, to reach 447 so far this year.