Boeing 737s on the ground in Renton, Washington.
Leslie Josephs | CNBC
Boeing delivered 33 planes in September, six more than in the same period a year earlier, as the company and its customers keep an eye on the impact of a machinists’ strike, which is now in in its fourth week.
Through September, Boeing delivered 291 planes, well below the 371 it delivered in the first nine months of 2023. Rival Airbus delivered 447 planes this year through August,
Last month’s deliveries were dominated by 27 of Boeing’s best-selling 737 Max jets to customers including United Airlineswho received five, and Ryanair And Southwest Airlineswho each took three. Deliveries are essential for Boeing. It has already spent more than $8 billion this year since customers pay most of the price when they receive the plane.
The planes are produced in Renton, Washington, one of the factories where machinists walked out on September 13 after workers voted overwhelmingly against a tentative agreement between the company and their union . The two sides are back at the negotiating table this week, even though the union rejected a softened offer from Boeing last month.
All but 10 of the Maxes were handed over before the strike began, according to Sheila Kahyaoglu, an aerospace analyst at Jefferies. In a memo released Monday, she forecast that Boeing will produce 25 Max planes per month if the strike ends in October, but that the company’s planned ramp-up to 38 Max planes per month will be delayed by a year.
Boeing is expected to release its quarterly results on October 23, when it will detail the financial impact of the strike.
September deliveries also included four 787 Dreamliner planes, manufactured at Boeing’s non-union plant in South Carolina. For the month, Boeing recorded 66 gross orders for new aircraft.
Boeing has spent much of this year dealing with the aftermath of a near disaster on one of its new 737 Max 9s in January, when a door plug that was missing key bolts exploded.
The company’s order book stands at 5,456 aircraft.
