The full year results announced by Boeing show the US manufacturer has met its delivery target for 2010 but the delays in both the 747 and 787 programs finally took their toll as customers cancel orders. Boeing has therefore ended the year with 530 net orders for commercial aircraft but booked 95 cancellations. Airbus has yet to announce its full year orders but until November it secured 388 net orders, which includes 52 cancellations.
Deliveries reached 462 aircraft in 2010, two more than expected but still 13 less than in 2009. Some 74 of Boeing’s most popular widebody aircraft, the 777, were delivered last year, with 46 net orders booked. Boeing delivered a record 376 737NGs in 2010 for a second consecutive year. And with 486 net orders booked in 2010, future years look positive for the most popular Boeing single aisle aircraft. Boeing still hasn’t made a decision on whether to revamp the 737 and has the luxury of time to do so as the A320 NEO is not scheduled to come to market until 2016 and in the meantime the US manufacturer is sold out for 737 production slots until 2015. It has the luxury of time to ensure it really adds value to any renewed version of the 737NG and makes sure it gets the technology right. Most probably it is waiting to see what advances it can harvest from the 787 program and anything Airbus comes up with for the new A320NEO.
You have just until the end of today to cast your vote in our A320NEO survey. Remember all replies are treated anonymously so please be as candid as you want to. The results of the survey will be published in the first issue of Airline Economic magazine, which also contains the Aviation 100 award winner results.