Holy Cow, That's A Lotta Planes!
ANN REALTIME UPDATE 01.03.08 2300
EST: They waited until the absolute last minute... but
Boeing made good on reports it would announce its 2007 sales total
Thursday, and touted a mind-boggling net order total of 1,413 --
smashing the planemaker's previous record of 1,044 sales in 2006,
and marking the third year in a row Boeing surpassed the
1,000-order mark.
We'll say it again. Holy cow.
"It has been another strong year for commercial aviation, and we
are grateful for our customers' trust in our team, and our products
and services," said master-of-understatement Scott Carson, Boeing
Commercial Airplanes president and chief executive officer. "We
deeply appreciate the role we play in our customers' plans for
growth and success, and we are focused on meeting our
commitments."
In total, 80 different customers ordered Boeing airplanes in
2007, including passenger airlines, cargo carriers, leasing
companies, and unidentified customers.
"2007 told us that global demand for commercial airplanes
remains strong and sustained. And we've responded with what is
clearly the strongest product lineup that we've ever had, from the
Next-Generation 737 through the 747-8, 767, 777, and our newest
family, the 787 Dreamliner," Carson said. "We are able to offer
more new-technology airplanes to our customers than ever before,
aircraft that are quieter and more fuel efficient, with
significantly lower carbon dioxide emissions and reduced impact on
local communities."
ANN will analyze Boeing's accomplishments in 2007 Friday...
after our brains process this news...
Previous Report
1850 EST:
We're on full-fledged 'Boeing Watch' at ANN, as the planemaker is
poised to reveal its sales total for 2007 -- a figure that may top
1,400 net orders when the dust clears.
Boeing is reportedly scheduled to announce the figure Thursday,
according to numerous news reports... but so far, there's been no
word on the total from Seattle or Chicago. The planemaker did
announce its delivery figure for 2007, however -- 441 commercial
aircraft, a significant bump from its 2006 total of 398 aircraft
delivered.
A full 330 of those planes delivered in 2007 were 737s, with 83
777 widebodies, 16 747s and 12 767s. The company delivered 112
planes in the fourth quarter, according to a Boeing statement.
While impressive, Boeing's delivery tally is unlikely to unseat
European planemaker Airbus for the title of world's largest
commercial aircraft producer. In 2006, Airbus delivered 434 planes
-- and almost certainly topped that for 2007.
But that's not the big question on the minds of most airliner
enthusiasts, and industry watchers... it's "Did Boeing top Airbus
in orders for 2007?" We won't know the answer to that question
until January 16, when Airbus announces its totals -- but we should
see Boeing's cards in the very immediate future. Stay tuned... this
is where the game gets fun.
Original Report
All the sudden, it's no
longer quite as certain European planemaker Airbus will take the
orders crown for 2007... as Boeing announced a slew of last-minute
deals Wednesday, catapulting the American manufacturer's yearly net
order numbers to nearly 1,400.
Boeing says it completed a 100-plane deal with Dubai Aerospace
Enterprise (DAE) just before the close of business December 31,
reports the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. The planemaker also
finalized deals with Vietnam Airlines for 12 787s -- taking that
plane past the 800-orders mark, to 817 -- and Brazil's GOL
confirmed it will order 40 more 737s, with options for 40 more.
The most recent numbers announced by Boeing -- on December 18 --
listed 1,213 net orders for the year. That already gave Boeing its
best-ever sales year, bar none... but since then, Boeing has added
even more, swelling its total to 1,398.
As for Airbus, it's most recent numbers show 1,204 gross orders
-- including options and LOIs -- through the end of November. That
does not include Airbus's own 100-plane deal with DAE, which was
also likely finalized before the deadline.
Boeing is expected to reveal its final tally this week.
Airbus will release its official 2007 sales numbers on January
16.