Boeing’s March deliveries included 19 737 MAXs, pushing the first-quarter total to 58 and keeping the manufacturer largely on track to meeting its goal of clearing most its backlog of stored narrowbodies by the end of 2022.
An Aviation Week analysis shows that 16 of the 19 737 MAXs handed over last month were built in 2019—part of the fleet of aircraft not delivered during the model’s 21-month grounding. Boeing also handed over three P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft last month as part of its 737 program deliveries—two to the U.S. and one to India.
Boeing re-started 737 deliveries in December 2020 following a 21-month pause that led to an undelivered inventory of about 470 aircraft. Company executives have cited moving the resulting backlog and ramping up production rates as key steps on a path to more solid financial footing.
Another major step was resuming 787 deliveries, which Boeing did last month following a five-month pause. Boeing handed over two 787s in March—its first since it began detailed, post-production inspections and re-work to address quality-control issues identified last year. Both were 787-9s for United Airlines, the manufacturer’s official tally showed.
Boeing’s commercial programs totaled 29 deliveries in March.
Gross orders last month totaled 196—all for the 737 program. Eleven of the orders were for P-8s or Boeing Business Jet versions.
“March’s orders and deliveries’ report was marginally encouraging in that net orders (ex ASC 606) were positive for the second straight month,” Cowen analyst Cai von Rumohr wrote in a note to investors. “However, deliveries were lackluster, including a disappointing 19 MAXs and two 787s.”
April could bring more headwinds for 737 MAX deliveries as Boeing grapples with a production issue that could affect about 370 of its backlogged 737 MAXs. Flagged for operators April 8, the issue affects standby power control units (SPCUs) and wiring. Boeing, affected operators, and the FAA were working April 13 to finalize an inspection and maintenance process. One source with knowledge of the deliberations said a permanent fix could take 1-2 days of work. About 90 aircraft have been delivered with the possible issue and are out of service awaiting instructions from Boeing and the FAA.
Most of the affected in-service fleet belongs to U.S. operators Southwest Airlines (30 aircraft), American Airlines (17), and United (16). All three carriers confirmed that as of the close of business April 13, none had received a service bulletin.
Boeing’s official backlog stood at 4,054 on March 31. The backlog does not include 935 orders considered at risk under ASC 606 accounting standards. The vast majority of them, 773, are for the 737 program, while 109 are 777s and 53 are 787s.
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