Boeing’s order activity ticked down in August following a strong July, with the company booking deals for 30 aircraft and logging cancellations for four jets.
However, deliveries were up, aided by the resumption last month of 787 shipments following a hiatus lasting the better part of the preceding 22 months. It also managed to increase 737 deliveries in August.
The orders booked last month include deals for 13 737 Max aircraft – two for American Airlines and 11 for unidentified customers – Boeing said on 13 September.
Additionally, Boeing logged orders for five 787-9s from Irish lessor AerCap, for eight 767 Freighters from UPS and for four 767-based KC-46 aerial refuelling tankers for Israel.
While August’s total is lower than the 130 commitments the airframer recorded in July, that figure is slightly skewed by the commercial activity unveiled at the Farnborough air show.
Customers also cancelled four 737 Max orders last month: one for Aerolineas Argentinas, two for Chinese airline Okay Airways and one for an unidentified customer, Boeing says.
Its backlog stood at 4,361 aircraft at the end of August – a reduction of nine aircraft on July’s total. The figure comprises 3,550 737s, three 747s, 104 767s, 302 777s and 402 787s.
Boeing delivered 35 aircraft in August, up from 26 in July, including two 787s: a -9 to Lufthansa and a -10 to KLM, it says.
American Airlines made headlines in August by saying it had taken delivery of a 787, marking the restart of Boeing’s deliveries of the type.
But Boeing did not log that aircraft, or a second 787 purchased by American, as delivered in August. That is because the jets remained in the airframer’s possession pending completion of post-delivery work specified by American.
Boeing also delivered 28 737s last month – 27 737 Max jets and one 737NG-based P-8 surveillance jet to the New Zealand Navy.
The 28-unit total is an increase on the 23 737s shipped in July as the company work to stabilise its narrowbody production at a rate of 31 jets monthly.
Boeing’s other August deliveries included two 767Fs and one 777F to FedEx, one 777F to China’s CES Leasing and one 777F to DHL.
Story updated on 13 September because Boeing issued corrected information saying it delivered the P-8 to New Zealand, not the US Navy.
