Boeing sold 82 aircraft in February and recorded 51 cancellations, marking the first time since November 2019 that monthly sales exceeded discarded orders.
The Covid-19 pandemic continues to weigh on sales of new planes, as airlines try to save money whenever they can. Some operators, however, are beginning to prepare for a recovery in travel demand with the purchase of new planes.
Boeing’s sales in February included 25 Boeing 737 Max planes for United Airlines and 27 KC-46 tankers. The Chicago-based aircraft maker registered 51 cancellations, including 32 Max planes. Singapore Airlines replaced an order for 19 787-10 Dreamliners with an 11-year-old 777X, Boeing’s new aircraft, long delayed. The company expects the long-range, double-aisle jet to enter commercial service by the end of 2023.
Boeing’s order book now stands at 4,041 aircraft.
Boeing delivered 22 aircraft last month, including 18 737 Max planes. In November, the Federal Aviation Administration authorized the jets to fly again after a 20-month stranding that followed two fatal accidents. Most other aviation regulators followed suit, allowing Boeing to resume delivery of the more than 3,000 Max planes that had pending orders.