Boeing Pulls Out Of Strike Doldrums

Michael Mecham mecham@aviationweek.com

First quarter 2009 deliveries at Boeing Commercial Airplanes have rebounded from last year's two-month machinists strike, but the company is still in negative territory for orders.

Boeing reported 121 deliveries through March 31, six more than the same period last year. A Boeing official said all four of its production model lines are now operating normally. The fifth for the 787 is not expected to begin deliveries until first quarter 2010.

As usual, deliveries were led by the 737 family with 91 aircraft compared to 87 in 2008. Boeing has steadily increased 737 deliveries for the past several years - it delivered 83 in first quarter 2007 - to keep up with demand.

The 777 also advanced with 23 aircraft delivered compared to 21 in 2008 and 17 in 2007. Four 747s and three 767s, the same as last year, rounded out the total.

Meanwhile, the company reported an order for five 737s for an unidentified customer, raising that brand to a total 24 in the first quarter. Its only other orders this year have been for four 777s, three of them unidentified and one for Air New Zealand.

But that gross order total of 28 aircraft is negated by cancellations of 32 787s. Orders cooled last year after three record years, but the company's totals still look blistering compared to the deep freeze that the worldwide economic slump has thrown the order book in for 2009.

In first quarter 2008, Boeing held 289 orders, including 187 for the 737, 75 for the 787, 26 for the 777 and one 747.

Photo: Boeing