Planemaker Secured 200 Orders In Last Days Of Year

As ANN reported Thursday night, Boeing established a new record for all-time commercial aircraft sales in 2007, with 1,413 net orders. The question is now, how long with Boeing hold onto the record... as Airbus is expected to release its own record numbers in 12 days.

For the moment, though, we'll examine Boeing's accomplishments -- and what accomplishments they are.

Even a six-month delivery delay to its 787 Dreamliner program -- the airliner many believe represents the very future of the American planemaker -- did little to stem the tide of orders for the Dreamliner. Boeing wrapped up 2007 with 817 net orders for the composite-bodied aircraft... 369 of which came over the past year alone. The first Dreamliner is expected to fly in the first half of 2008, with first deliveries coming before the end of the year.

"Clearly we've had our share of challenges during the past year, but our customers understand the issues, and market acceptance of our products and services has been nothing short of remarkable," said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Scott Carson. "With a balanced base of customers from all regions of the world, from airlines with varied business models, and with strong orders across our product line, we are now focused on executing this strong backlog position."

While most of the industry spotlight was on the Dreamliner, however, Boeing has its oldest aircraft family to thank for much of its record sales count for 2007. The erstwhile 737 narrowbody had the strongest sales year in its history, setting a third consecutive record -- with net orders of 846 airplanes. The previous record totals for a single year for the 737 program were 729 net orders in 2006, and 569 net orders in 2005.

Boeing's freighter program also enjoyed its third consecutive record sales year, with 83 gross orders for freighters in 2007 -- compared with gross orders for 81 freighters in 2006 and 74 freighters in 2005. Widebody sales continued strong, in a year in which both the 767 and 777 surpassed 1,000 total program orders.

777 orders marked the second strongest year in program history, with 141 net orders in 2007. The 747 program finished the year with 21 net orders, and the 767 program had 36 net orders.

Fueling Boeing's record sales for 2007 was a "last-minute" sales boom, as the planemaker recorded 200 orders alone in the last 13 days of 2007.

That figure included orders for Boeing Business Jet (one 737 and one 787), British Airways (24 787s), Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (70 737s, five 747-8Fs, 10 777s, and 15 787s), GOL Airlines (40 737s), Jeju Air (five 737s), VALC (eight 787s), Vietnam Airlines (four 787s), and Unidentified (17 737s).

FMI: http://active.boeing.com/commercial/orders/index.cfm