The aircraft manufacturer Boeing, which has been struggling since the beginning of 2023 with production problems and their consequences, received only three net orders in May and delivered only 24 commercial aircraft, it announced on Tuesday.
The American aircraft manufacturer received a firm order for four planes – 787-10 Dreamliners – from the Taiwanese company Eva Air and recorded the cancellation by the Argentinian company Aerolineas Argentinas of a 737 MAX.
It specifies that it has continued to suffer the consequences of its actions to improve the quality of its production, including a slowed pace on its assembly lines, as well as supply problems.
The level of its deliveries remained similar to that of April: 24 planes returned to their owners, including nineteen examples of its flagship plane, the 737 MAX. Ryanair notably received four, ahead of Alaska Airlines (3), Copa Airlines (2) and Air India (2).
Furthermore, the aircraft manufacturer handed over two 767s intended for the KC-46 military refueling aircraft program and one in a cargo version for the courier company Fedex, as well as two Dreamliners (to Air Lease Corporation and to China Southern Airlines).
On the other hand, deliveries to China remain suspended after the Chinese Civil Aviation Agency requested additional approval in May concerning a lithium battery installed in a flight recorder of the 737, 787 and 777X.
Beijing resumed Boeing deliveries in December, for the first time since 2019. They were suspended after the crash of two 737 MAX 8s.
According to its annual report, as of December 31, 85 planes were awaiting delivery to Chinese companies. According to its website on Tuesday, 24 planes were delivered between January and May.
Around 11:50 a.m., Boeing shares fell 3.14% on the New York Stock Exchange.
Idle speed
The production rate of the 737 was frozen at the end of January at a maximum of 38 monthly planes by the American aviation regulator while waiting for production quality to be restored.
Boeing planned to continue ramping up to reach fifty copies per month by 2025-2026.
Since the start of the year, Boeing has received 142 gross orders (103 net) and delivered 131 aircraft, including 102 of the 737 family and nineteen Dreamliners. At the end of May, its order book covered 6,188 aircraft.
Its European competitor Airbus had delivered, at the end of May, 256 aircraft to its customers since the start of the year and recorded 237 net orders. Its order book reached 8,579 aircraft.
A gap between the two giants which risks widening further during the Farnborough air show (United Kingdom), from July 22 to 26, given the storm currently being experienced by Boeing.
A little ray of sunshine on Monday: the board of directors of the Israeli company El Al opened exclusive negotiations with Boeing and leasing companies to renew its fleet of single-aisle aircraft.
According to a press release from El Al, which has discussed more than a year with the two major aircraft manufacturers, this will be the largest contract in its history including around thirty 737 MAXs worth between 2 and 2 .5 billion dollars. Deliveries are planned from 2027.
El Al recently placed an order for up to nine Dreamliners.