Boeing wins first-half orders battle, but deliveries slump

Boeing is off to a good start on orders in the first half of the year, but remains mired in a three-year delivery slump.

With 352 aircraft deliveries through 30 June, Boeing again beat Airbus’s six-month tally of 306, according to data released by both manufacturers on 7 July.

But Airbus narrowed the delivery gap to 46 aircraft, trimming Boeing’s first-half advantage by 31 aircraft compared to results in 2015 and 2016.

Boeing has to wait until next year to reverse a persistent half-year delivery slump. The company delivered 381 aircraft in the first half of 2015, then 375 last year and only 352 this year.

Deliveries rates in Seattle have fallen since 2015 as Boeing ramps up the 737 Max production line even as demand for the 22-year-old 777 declines.

Boeing is doing better in the rivalry with Airbus on the order front in the first half, although in recent years the European manufacturer has often won the full-year result.

In the first half, Boeing collected 381 net orders, opening a wide margin over Airbus’ total of 203 through 30 June.