Losing more 737 MAX orders, Boeing eyes jet’s U.S. return but Europe tariffs loom

By Eric M. Johnson

SEATTLE (Reuters) – Boeing Co lost another 12 orders for its grounded 737 MAX jetliner in October, and delivered 13 aircraft to customers, down from the 20 jets delivered in the same month a year ago, company data showed on Tuesday.

For the second month in a row, the closely watched monthly snapshot revealed 787 Dreamliner quality flaws and the coronavirus pandemic continue to hamper Boeing’s efforts to develop an alternative cash cow to its grounded 737 MAX.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Authority appears potentially a week away from lifting a March 2019 safety ban, although the pandemic continues to hurt demand for jets from both Boeing and European rival Airbus .

The European Union’s decision to impose tariffs of 15% on Boeing planes emerged this week as a new threat that could hobble jet deliveries in Europe.

Boeing said it lost orders for four 737 MAX jets from China Development Bank Financial Leasing Co, one from Czech Airlines owner Smartwings, three from Oman Air, and four from an undisclosed buyer or buyers.

Canceled MAX orders, including those where buyers converted one type of jet to a different model, was 448 jets – and 460 for all jets across Boeing’s portfolio, Boeing said.

For 2020 through October, the number of MAX orders canceled, or removed from Boeing’s official backlog when it applies stricter accounting standards, stood at 1,043 aircraft.

For deliveries – a key metric since customers hand over most of the money for a new aircraft when they pick up aircraft – Boeing handed over 13 twin-aisle jets in October, compared to 20 a year earlier and 10 in September.

That brings total deliveries to 111 aircraft in the 10 months through October 2020, down from 321 for the same period a year ago.

The October delivery tally included one P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, one 747 and three 767 freighters to United Parcel Service , two 777 freighters to China Cargo Airlines, one 777 to German logistics company DHL, and one 777-300ER to Dubai-headquartered Novus Aviation Capital, Boeing said.

Boeing also delivered four 787s in October: one 787-8 to American Airlines , one 787-9 to Leasing giant AerCap, one 787-10 to Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways, and one 787-10 Saudi Arabian Airlines.

(Reporting by Eric M. Johnson in Seattle; editing by Jane Wardell)