Boeing has released its latest figures for the total number of aircraft the company delivered in the third quarter of 2024 (3Q24). The data shows that the Chicago-based manufacturer has continued to deliver products successfully across all the sectors to which it supplies new aircraft. This has been despite industrial relations issues, supply chain delays, senior management changes, and the company continuing to deal with the fallout from the quality control issues sparked by the Alaska Airlines 737 MAX blowout in January 2024.
The 3Q24 figures provide data for both its commercial aircraft and defense divisions, the latter of which includes both fixed-wing and rotary-wing models supplied to military operators worldwide.
On the commercial side, the company delivered 116 new airframes in total during the period, breaking down into 92 narrowbodies and 24 widebodied airplanes. The single-aisle narrowbody figure consists of all variants of the Boeing 737 MAX family. In terms of twin-aisle widebodies, the figure of 24 aircraft comprises six 767s, four 777m, and 14 787s. Over the year to date, the Commercial Airplanes division has delivered 291 airframes in total (229 737 Max, 15 767, 11 777, and 36 787).
On the defense side, the company delivered a total of 34 aircraft in 3Q24. This figure included seven new AH-64 Apache helicopters, 11 ‘remanufactured’ AH-64, two ‘renewed’ CH-47 Chinook helicopters, three F-15s, a single F/A-18 Hornet, and five KC-46 tanker airplanes. Additionally, there were three MH-139 Grey Wolf helicopters delivered to customers, plus single examples of its P-8 and T-7 military aircraft. Throughout the year to date, the Defense Division has delivered 76 aircraft in total.
As for new orders during 3Q24, notable achievements for Boeing included the signing of a purchased order by El Al of Israel for up to 31 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in August 2024; the Polish Government agreeing to purchase 98 AH-64 Apache helicopters (making it the largest operator of the type outside the US); and an order from the US Air Force for a pair of E-7A Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft, based on the company’s 737 airframe design.
During 3Q24, the company’s new incoming CEO, Kelly Ortberg, also laid out his plans to get the planemaker back on track after a torrid start to 2024. Ortberg replaced Dave Calhoun, who announced his intention to retire from the company earlier in 2024 amid the 737 MAX safety and quality control issues. Calhoun had served as president and CEO since January 2020, and as a member of Boeing’s Board of Directors since 2009.
Most recently, the company has been entrenched in an ongoing dispute with its labor unions regarding pay and working conditions. Members of its Machinists Union have been out on strike since late September. It is widely thought by industry analysts that this ongoing industrial action will have a major impact on the firm’s final delivery figures for 2024. In the meantime, the company is due to reveal its latest financial results to investors in a call scheduled for October 23, 2024.
