Boeing reported a significant drop in its commercial jet deliveries for November, delivering just 13 aircraft, a stark contrast to the 56 jetliners handed over during the same month the previous year. This sharp decline comes in the aftermath of a seven-week strike by its machinists, which ended on November 5, highlighting the ongoing challenges the aerospace giant faces in resuming normal production levels. The strike, involving 33,000 workers at Boeing's Washington state facilities, had halted production of its key commercial aircraft, including the 737 MAX, 767, and 777 models. Although workers returned to their posts following the acceptance of a new contract offering a 38% wage increase over four years, the time taken to ramp up production has been considerable.
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Boeing's November deliveries included nine 737 MAX jets, two 777 freighters, and two 787-9 Dreamliners. This is a decrease from October's 14 deliveries when production was still significantly impacted by the strike. The company has been working to reintegrate its workforce while ensuring compliance with stringent safety and quality standards, which have been under intense scrutiny following several high-profile issues with its aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has maintained a cap on 737 MAX production at 38 planes per month, a measure implemented after a January incident where a door panel detached from a 737 MAX 9 during flight. This cap, along with the strike's aftermath, has constrained Boeing's ability to quickly scale up its delivery numbers.
Despite the low delivery count in November, Boeing did manage to secure new orders, with 49 gross orders reported, including 34 737s and 15 767s for the U.S. Air Force's KC-46 program. However, there were 14 cancellations, leaving a net addition of 35 new orders. This includes a significant deal with TUI, which canceled an order for 14 aircraft to instead lease them from BOC Aviation, resulting in a net addition of 20 737 MAX orders. Year to date, Boeing has delivered 318 jets, significantly below its targets, and has recorded 427 gross orders with 370 net orders after accounting for cancellations and conversions.
The company's European rival, Airbus, reported delivering more than 80 jets in November, underscoring the competitive pressure Boeing is under to regain its delivery pace. Boeing's CEO, Kelly Ortberg, who took the helm amid this turbulent period, has emphasized rebuilding trust with customers and regulators and addressing the production backlog. The low delivery numbers in November are a clear indicator of the challenges ahead but also reflect the company's commitment to ensuring quality and safety in its production processes post-strike.