A flurry of fourth quarter commercial airliner activity by Boeing helped the manufacturer amass 527 deliveries for 2001, five more than the latest revised estimate following the terrorist attacks.
Last year's tally was 7% up on the 489 deliveries made in 2000. Not surprisingly, more than 50% of 2001's output was made up of Next Generation 737s, which accounted for 299 aircraft. Of these, 85 were delivered in the fourth quarter, including an inter-company transfer of an airframe being delivered to the US Navy as a C-40A.
The year also saw 61 777s delivered, as well as 49 717s. Production of the 100-seat twinjet at Long Beach, California, showed significant growth, up more than 50% on the 32 deliveries in 2000. The accelerating line, which will slow down again significantly this year as part of the reorganisation of the 717 programme, delivered 12 in the fourth quarter.
Output of the 747-400 increased slightly to 31 from 25 in 2000, with just under half the deliveries being freighters. Deliveries of 757s and 767s remained relatively stable at 45 and 40 for the year respectively. The year also saw the last two MD-11 deliveries.
Although deliveries for the year, and the fourth quarter's tally of 144, were up on expectations, the company remains braced for a dramatic downturn over the next two years. Production has slowed to match downturns predicted before 11 September, as well as taking the terrorist action into account. Delivery estimates for 2002 show around 350, against around 510 previously expected. A further drop is anticipated in 2003 to the 280-300 range, against the company's pre-11 September forecast of around 470.
Airbus, which delivered 311 aircraft in 2000, has not yet reported its 2001 figures, but they are expected to total around 320 - down about 5% on earlier targets.
Source: Flight International