SEATTLE- American aerospace giant, Boeing has delivered the 1,500th 737 MAX to Irish carrier, Ryanair (FR).
Boeing’s aircraft deliveries in April dropped to their slowest rate in over two years, with the company recording negative monthly orders due to cancellations from the recently closed Canadian airline, Lynx Air.
Boeing 1500th 737 MAX
The Virginia-based company delivered around 24 aircraft, the fewest in a single month since February 2022, and received new orders for only seven jets, the company announced on May 14.
Out of 24, three were delivered to Ryanair including the 1,500th 737 MAX, and three to Air India Express (IX).
Furthermore, in April, Boeing delivered four 787s (two to All Nippon Airways, and one each to Hawaiian Airlines and Chinese carrier Juneyao Airlines), two 767 Freighters to UPS, and two 777Fs (one each to Eva Air and Qatar Airways).
Record-low Delivery in April 2024
The slowdown in deliveries is attributed to Boeing’s decision to reduce 737 Max production to address persistent quality issues following a 737 Max 9 door plug failure on January 5.
To minimize “traveled work”—tasks completed later than scheduled—Boeing has been holding up its 737 production lines.
The company recorded 33 order cancellations last month, including 29 737 Max jets from Lynx Air, a Canadian discount airline that ceased operations in February due to financial pressures.
Another customer, unnamed by Boeing, canceled orders for two 777-9s and two 787-10s. However, these losses were offset by new orders from an unidentified customer for two 777-9s and two 787-10s and El Al’s order for three 787-9s in April.
The activity resulted in Boeing recording a net negative 26 new orders for the month.
Despite this, the company made accounting adjustments that moved 28 orders back into its backlog. These orders were previously classified in a category for potentially uncertain deals.
By the end of April, Boeing’s backlog increased to 5,646 jets, up from 5,668 at the end of March. The backlog consists of 4,340 737s, 99 767s, 489 777s, and 718 787s.
70 Years of Commercial Aircraft Production
On May 14, 1954, Boeing, now one of the world’s largest commercial aerospace companies, unveiled its first commercial jet-powered passenger plane, the Model 367-80 prototype, at its Renton Field plant in Washington state. This location continues to produce jetliners today.
The 367-80 was retired on January 22, 1970, but its technology paved the way for the renowned 707 model and later the highly successful 737.
Initially, airlines were hesitant to adopt jet technology due to concerns about costs and noise levels. However, the successful test flights of the 367-80 demonstrated significant advancements in aviation, such as increased speeds and altitudes.
This success set the stage for Boeing’s 707 planes, launched in 1957. Pan Am began regular 707 flights on October 26, 1958, marking the industry’s acceptance of jet airliners. Before the 707, commercial air travel was dominated by propeller-driven aircraft.
Boeing’s 737 model, launched in 1967, went on to become the most commercially successful airplane in aviation history.
Recent Challenges and Problems
In January of this year, a door panel on Alaska Airlines (AS) flight 1282, a Boeing 737 MAX 9, blew out, leading to rapid decompression and necessitating an emergency landing at Portland International Airport. While some passengers sustained minor injuries, there were no fatalities or serious harm.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) promptly grounded all 171 737 MAX 9 jets in use worldwide. An initial investigation reported loose hardware as the cause. But after inspection, they were cleared to fly again.
Boeing has been the subject of 32 whistleblower complaints filed with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the U.S. workplace safety regulator, over the past three years, Al Jazeera Reported.
Air safety officials in the US are currently investigating allegations that Boeing employees falsified inspection records for the 787 Dreamliner.
Sam Salehpour, a former quality engineer who worked at Boeing for 10 years, has voiced safety concerns about the 787 Dreamliner.
Last month, Salehpour testified before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee about safety issues related to the 777 and 787 aircraft.
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