Boeing delivered 348 airplanes in 2024, a decrease of about one-third compared to the previous year. The company faced challenges due to a midair door panel blowout incident and a machinist strike that disrupted production.
This delivery figure widened the gap between Boeing and its main competitor, Airbus, which delivered 766 jetliners in 2024, the highest number since 2019. Both companies experienced supply chain issues that affected production and delivery despite having strong order backlogs.
In December, Boeing delivered 30 airplanes after resuming production of its popular 737 Max planes following the resolution of an eight-week machinist strike. Deliveries are crucial for manufacturers as they mark when customers make the majority of payments for the aircraft.
Aircraft shortages from suppliers have led to increased lease rates, with projections indicating record-high rentals this year, according to a report by aviation data firm IBA.
In December, Boeing received 142 gross orders for new planes, including 100 737 Maxes for Pegasus Airlines in Turkey and 30 787s for flydubai, which had announced its purchase intentions at the Dubai Air Show in late 2023. Boeing also removed over 130 orders from its books related to India’s now-defunct carrier Jet Airways.
Boeing’s total gross orders for the year reached 569, with net orders standing at 377 airplanes (317 after accounting adjustments). Airbus, which disclosed its full-year figures recently, reported 878 gross orders and 826 net orders for the year.
Boeing is set to release its fourth-quarter and full-year results on Jan. 28, with CEO Kelly Ortberg and other company leaders expected to address investor inquiries regarding production plans and efforts to enhance profitability.
