Aircraft Manufacturer Sees Uptick in Deliveries Amid Ongoing Labor Dispute
Despite the ongoing machinist strike, Boeing managed to deliver 33 airplanes in September, a six-unit increase from the same period last year. This brings the total number of aircraft handed over to customers to 291 for the first nine months of the year, still short of the 371 delivered during the same period in 2023.
The majority of September’s deliveries consisted of 27 737 Max aircraft, with major customers including United Airlines, Ryanair, and Southwest Airlines. The production of these planes takes place at the Renton, Washington factory, one of the sites affected by the strike that began on September 13.
The deliveries are crucial for Boeing, as customers typically pay the bulk of the price upon receipt of the aircraft. The company has already burned through over $8 billion this year. The ongoing labor dispute has raised concerns about the impact on production and delivery schedules.
In addition to the 737 Max deliveries, Boeing also handed over four 787 Dreamliner planes, manufactured at its nonunion factory in South Carolina. The company received 66 gross orders for new aircraft in September, bringing its backlog to 5,456 planes.
The financial implications of the strike will be detailed in Boeing’s quarterly results, scheduled for release on October 23. Industry analysts predict that the strike will delay the company’s planned production ramp-up, with some forecasting a year-long delay in reaching the target of 38 Max aircraft per month.
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