Boeing’s 2020 aircraft cancellations worst on record, despite December Max orders

Boeing had its worst year for net aircraft sales on record in 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic added to the company’s woes, but more interest for its beleaguered 737 Max planes cropped up at the end of the year. The Chicago-based manufacturer on Tuesday said it logged gross orders for 184 aircraft in 2020, including more than 80 of its 737 Max planes in December, a month after US regulators lifted a 20-month ban on the jetliners following two deadly crashes. Customers canceled orders for more than 650 planes last year. Boeing removed more than 1,000 planes from its backlog, taking into account orders it didn’t think would be fulfilled. That marked the worst year for net orders on record for the company, according to data from Teal Group, an aerospace consulting firm. Boeing delivered 157 planes in 2020, the fewest since 1984, according to Richard Aboulafia, vice president of analysis at Teal Group. The 737 Max grounding and the pandemic weren’t Boeing’s only problems last year. Additional inspections of the company’s 787 Dreamliner planes delayed deliveries of the wide-body jets, which are more expensive than the 737 line. Last month, CFO Greg Smith said Boeing would further trim production of the Dreamliners to five a month from six. Before the pandemic Boeing had planned to ramp up production of the planes to as many as 14 a month, but repeatedly scaled back production targets as demand slipped.<br/>