Boeing experienced a significant boost in aircraft orders during April, with the aerospace manufacturer announcing 135 new net bookings on Tuesday.
The April surge nearly equaled Boeing’s entire order total from the first quarter of the year. When combined with earlier months, the company has accumulated 284 new orders through April after accounting for cancellations and aircraft type changes – marking their strongest four-month performance since 2014.
Despite this positive momentum, Boeing remains behind European competitor Airbus, which has secured 405 orders through the end of April when factoring in cancellations and conversions. Airbus also outpaced Boeing in deliveries, handing over 67 aircraft to customers last month.
Boeing’s April deliveries totaled 47 jetliners, representing a slight increase from March’s 46 deliveries. These handovers are crucial financial milestones since airlines typically pay the majority of an aircraft’s cost upon delivery, making them a key metric for investors.
The delivered aircraft breakdown included 34 of Boeing’s 737 MAX models and six 787 Dreamliners.
Boeing’s 787 delivery schedule continues facing obstacles due to ongoing certification issues with premium cabin seating. However, Chief Financial Officer Jay Malave indicated during last month’s earnings discussion that the company maintains its goal of delivering between 90 and 100 of these popular wide-body jets in 2024.
April’s order breakdown featured 57 requests for 737 MAX aircraft and 51 for 787 models, with most customers choosing to remain anonymous. Additionally, Boeing received 28 orders for its 777X aircraft from undisclosed buyers. The company continues working through the certification process for this long-delayed model.
A milestone occurred on May 7 when the first passenger-configured 777-9 completed its inaugural flight. This particular aircraft, destined for Lufthansa, had initially been scheduled to fly in April, though such timeline adjustments are common in aircraft testing programs.
