Boeing sold 82 aircraft in February and recorded 51 cancellations, marking the first time since November 2019 that monthly sales exceeded canceled orders.
The Covid-19 pandemic continues to weigh on new aircraft sales, as airlines try to save heavily wherever they can. Some carriers, however, are beginning to prepare to catch up on travel demand by buying new planes.
Boeing’s February sales included 25 Boeing 737 Max aircraft on United Airlines and 27 KC-46 tankers. The Chicago-based aircraft manufacturer issued 51 cancellations, including 32 Max aircraft. Singapore Airlines replaced an order for 19 787-10 Dreamliners with one for 11 777X aircraft, Boeing’s new long-delayed aircraft. The company expects this two-aisle, long-range aircraft to enter commercial service by the end of 2023.
Boeing’s lag now stands at 4,041 aircraft.
Boeing delivered 22 aircraft last month, including 18,737 Max aircraft. In November the Federal Aviation Administration cleared the planes to fly again after a 20-month landing that followed after two fatal crashes. Most other aviation regulators have followed suit, allowing Boeing to resume deliveries of the more than 3,000 Max aircraft it has had in reserve.