A Boeing 737 Max aircraft during a display at the Farnborough International Airshow, in Farnborough, Britain, on July 20, 2022.
Pietro Cziborra | Reuters
Boeing delivered 27 planes to its customers last month as it continues to struggle with quality control issues and production delays that have frustrated the CEOs of some of its biggest airline customers.
Boeing has delivered 54 planes so far this year, while Airbus has widened its lead over its main rival, delivering 79 planes in the first two months of 2024.
The delayed Boeing planes have been difficult for airline leaders. South West Airlineswhich flies only Boeing 737s, said Tuesday that it will cut capacity plans this year due to fewer Boeing Max deliveries and that it will have to reevaluate its financial estimates for 2024. United Airlines earlier this year it said it would eliminate the 737 Max 10, which has not yet been certified, from its fleet plans.
Boeing’s February deliveries included 17 Max airliners and seven wide-body 787-9 Dreamliners. Deliveries are important to aircraft manufacturers because customers pay most of the plane’s price when they receive the plane.
Boeing recorded 15 gross orders for new planes in February, while Airbus sold just two. And customers aren’t abandoning Boeing because of its recent troubles. Last week American Airlines announced an order for 260 narrow-body aircraft split between Boeing, Airbus and Embraer.