Boeing Has Delivered Less Than 100 Aircraft Since January

Boeing’s third-quarter deliveries report is out. While the planemaker beat out its second-quarter deliveries, only 28 jets were handed over to customers. This brings the yearly total thus far for 2020 to only 98 aircraft.

Boeing’s third-quarter deliveries

Only 28 jets were delivered from July through September. This consisted of three Boeing 737s, one 747, six 767s, five 777s, and 13 787s. Here are where they went:

• AerCap (lessor): one 787-9 (went to Air Europa)
• Air France: one 787-9
• ANA: one 787-9
• US Navy: two 737-800A (P-8A Poseidon)
• United Kingdom: one 737-800A
• The United States Air Force: two 767-2Cs (tanker aircraft)
• DAE Capital: one 777F (went to AirBridgeCargo)
• DHL: one 777F
• EVA Air: one 787-10
• FedEx Express: four 767-300Fs and one 777F
• Lufthansa Cargo: two 777Fs
• Turkish Airlines: three 787-9s
• United Airlines: five 787-9s
• UPS: one 747-8F
• Vistara: one 787-9

In the second quarter of 2020, Boeing delivered 20 aircraft. The best quarter thus far for Boeing was the first quarter, in which the manufacturer delivered 50 jets. This brings the total number of jets delivered in 2020 to 98 aircraft manufactured under Boeing’s commercial airplanes programs. There were other defense and space deliveries in 2020.

In comparison, Airbus delivered 57 aircraft in September alone, beating out Boeing’s entire delivery numbers for the quarter in one month.

The MAX is key

The 737 MAX is key to explain one reason why Boeing’s numbers were low. Due to the ongoing global grounding of the type, Boeing has been unable to deliver any 737 MAX commercial aircraft. This, one of Boeing’s most successful lines, reduces Boeing’s numbers and helps explain why even in the first quarter, Boeing did not deliver as many jets.

For example, Boeing’s third-quarter deliveries in 2018 hit 190, with nearly 140 of those aircraft being 737s, just under a half of which were 737 MAX jets.

When the MAX grounding order is lifted, Boeing plans on delivering over 400 MAX jets in one year. In the meantime, these planes are parked, awaiting whatever updates necessary before they can be delivered.

The 787 remains strong

Even when airlines are postponing deliveries and canceling orders, Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner program has continued to be strong, as evidenced by carriers taking the jets. Some of these airlines likely had to take the aircraft because of contractual obligations, but even then, airlines have still taken on the 787s and kept on flying them.

The 787s have helped unlock a plethora of new long-haul routes thanks to its excellent fuel efficiency, capacity, and range. Compared to older widebodies, the 787 is cheaper and more efficient to run, so many carriers have been flying these on international long-haul and some domestic routes with high demand.

The crisis still takes its toll

In 2019 and 2018, Boeing delivered 35 and 34 787 Dreamliners, respectively. With only 13 delivered in the third quarter, the impact this crisis has had on the industry is clear.

Ultimately, airlines are still not keen on taking new aircraft if there are no places to fly them. As such, many continue to work with Boeing to defer deliveries and rejig their order books. Whether 2021 is any better, however, is unclear. While various countries and regions have seen varying levels of rebound or continued depressed demand, most are not at the point where they can go out and launch new flights with thousands of jets parked around the world.

What do you make of Boeing’s 2020 deliveries thus far? Let us know in the comments!