Boeing jetliner deliveries fell to 27 aircraft in October

EVA Airways

09/11/2021 16:00

By Eric M. Johnson
    SEATTLE, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Boeing Co  BA.N  said on Tuesday
that deliveries fell to 27 airplanes in October while its 787
remains sidelined, but the U.S. planemaker seized on strong air
cargo demand by winning an order for two 777 freighters for
Maersk's Star Air.
    October's deliveries were eight fewer than in September but
14 more than in October last year, according to closely watched
company data released on Tuesday. 
    Boeing's 787 Dreamliner and its 737 MAX are integral to the
company's ability to rebound from the pandemic and a safety
scandal caused by two fatal crashes. 
    Of the 27 aircraft delivered last month, 18 were 737 MAX
passenger jets - six of which were for European low-cost carrier
Ryanair  RYA.I . It also delivered two 737-800 business jets to
an unnamed buyer, and two P-8 maritime patrol aircraft to the
U.S. Navy, Boeing said.
    The remaining five jets were larger widebodies feeding cargo
capacity: a 747 freighter to United Parcel Service  UPS.N , one
777 and one 767 for FedEx Corp  FDX.N , a 777 freighter for
Taiwan's EVA Airways Corp, and one 767-based tanker for the U.S.
Air Force, Boeing said.
    During the pandemic, many airlines have been forced to idle
unused passenger jets, driving up demand for cargo space on
dedicated freighters at a time when e-commerce has been a
lifeline for many. 
    This year, Boeing has delivered 268 aircraft, including 241
through September. It delivered 111 in the first 10 months of
2020.
    Of the sales this year, 212 were its best-selling 737 MAX
jets, which returned to service in late 2020 after a near
two-year safety ban.
    But Boeing continues to grapple with structural defects in
its bigger 787, which have caused it to cut production and halt
deliveries. 
    "We have a clear line of sight to the steps ahead" on
resuming 787 deliveries, Chief Executive Dave Calhoun told
analysts last month. He gave no specific timeline pending
regulatory approvals.
    Boeing sold seven aircraft in October, after cancellations
and instances where a buyer converted an order for one type of
aircraft to another.
    It had 10 gross orders, which included eight 737 MAX jets
whose buyer was unidentified, and two 777 freighters for
Maersk's Star Air.
    Boeing said Air Lease Corp  AL.N  canceled an order for
two 787-10 jets in October, while Aviation Capital Group dropped
one 737 MAX. 
    That brings orders for the year so far from 710 to 720, or
from 302 to 309 after cancellations and conversions, Boeing
said. 
    

 (Reporting by Eric M. Johnson in Seattle. Editing by Gerry
Doyle)
 ((Eric.m.johnson@thomsonreuters.com; +1 206 707 1218; Follow me
on Twitter @ByEricMJohnson;))