Boeing logged 72 aircraft orders in July, a total boosted by high-profile deals at Farnborough air show.
The US airframer detailed its July order and delivery activity on 13 August, which included commitments for 57 737 Max jets: 35 aircraft for Aviation Capital Group, 20 for Macquarie AirFinance and two for an unidentified customer.
On the widebody side, Boeing scored deals for 10 787s from Japan Airlines and for five 777 Freighters from another unnamed customer.
In addition, Boeing last month moved one order from the accounting bucket called ASC-606 – comprising orders it believes are unlikely to close – into its backlog of undelivered jets, while Aerolineas Argentinas cancelled a deal for one 737 Max.
The sizeable increase on June’s total of 14 orders likely reflects customers waiting until the Farnborough air show to announce business.
Boeing’s company’s safety culture is under intense scrutiny, with the US National Transportation Board holding a two-day hearing last week in Washington DC as part of its investigation into the circumstances leading to the 5 January accident involving a 737 Max 9 operated by Alaska Airlines, in which a door-plug was blown off the fuselage shortly after take-off.
In response to the incident, the Federal Aviation Administration limits Boeing to producing no more than 38 737s monthly – a restriction that will be lifted if the company demonstrates that it can safely produce more of the narrowbody jets.
Guided by new chief executive Kelly Ortberg, Boeing is searching for smoother skies by focusing on the manufacturing quality and the safety of the aircraft coming off its production lines.
Boeing delivered 43 aircraft in July – on a par with June’s 44-unit total.
For comparison, Boeing says it has averaged about 38 deliveries during July over the past three years, a period notable for Covid-19-related supply chain issues.
July deliveries included 31 737 Max jets for airlines, and one 737 to Boeing Defense & Security (BDS) for conversion into a P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.
Notably, Boeing last month resumed aircraft deliveries to China, following a two-month pause prompted by Chinese aviation regulators raising concerns about lithium batteries in cockpit-voice recorders. Chinese recipients of 737 Max aircraft in July included Xiamen Airlines, which took two units, and Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines, which each received one aircraft.
Boeing also delivered six 787s, a single 777 Freighter, and four 767s – one each to FedEx and UPS, and two to BDS to become KC-46 aerial refuellers.
For the seven months to 31 July, Boeing has handed over a total of 218 aircraft: 169 737 Max, 13 767s, 28 787s and eight 777s.
At the end of July, Boeing’s undelivered backlog stood at 5,506 jets, compared with 5,477 as of 30 June.
