Boeing had an exceptional month of sales in September, significantly surpassing its European rival Airbus. However, production delays stemming from new issues with the 737 MAX are preventing deliveries from growing at the same pace.
As reported by Dominic Gates of the Seattle Times, Boeing recorded a total of 214 new orders for commercial aircraft last month. This propelled sales far ahead of Airbus, which reported only 23 new orders for aircraft during the same month.
Global air traffic is in robust recovery, already reaching 97% of pre-pandemic levels. However, the production of the world’s two largest manufacturers has not followed the same trajectory. This has generated strong demand for aircraft that roll off the production lines, and airlines are placing massive orders to secure their positions on waiting lists.
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Through September, Boeing has secured 724 net new orders, while Airbus has received 1,241. However, it’s not all smooth sailing: both manufacturers are producing aircraft at a slower pace than the period before the pandemic.
Until September 2018, before the 737 MAX accidents, Boeing had delivered 568 aircraft. This year, by September, it had only delivered 371 aircraft, marking a 35% decrease. In contrast, Airbus had delivered 508 aircraft by September 2018. Despite supply chain problems caused by the pandemic, the European manufacturer significantly outperforms its American counterpart this year, having delivered 488 aircraft by September.
The significant delay in Boeing’s recovery is primarily due to a series of quality issues that have successively affected the 737 MAX and 787 programs. Last month, it was discovered that the MAX fuselages had incorrectly drilled holes. As a result of the extensive repair work, which the company’s CFO described as highly complex, Boeing delivered only 15 MAX aircraft in September, the lowest monthly figure in two years. The underperformance of the model was partially offset by a better delivery rate of the 787. In September, Boeing delivered 10 Dreamliners, marking the first time this year that deliveries reached double digits.
