Boeing plane deliveries drop 22 percent
Boeing Co. said Thursday deliveries of its commercial jets slid 22 percent and orders fell 11 percent in August, as weaker demand for air travel forces airlines to cancel or postpone plans to buy new planes.
The Chicago-based airplane maker has struggled with lower demand amid the economic slowdown, which has hurt its airline customers. It also has grappled with costly production problems related to its new 787, a lightweight plane built for fuel efficiency.
Repeated delays have put the 787 more than two years behind schedule. Boeing says it plans to conduct the first test flight of the plane by year's end and book a $2.5 billion charge for three of the test planes, which lack commercial value.
Days after announcing the latest 787 schedule, Boeing said on Monday that Scott Carson was stepping down as head of its commercial airplane division and would be succeeded the following day by Jim Albaugh, the head of its defense business.
Boeing delivered 28 planes last month, down from 36 during the same month of 2008, according to figures posted Thursday on its Web site. Boeing, which receives payments when planes are delivered, has received a number of deferrals and some cancellations from customers.
The company said it received 32 orders in August. That's down from 36 in August of 2008.
Despite weaker demand for Boeing's commercial jets, the company has a record backlog of orders and operates a defense business that accounts for about half its overall revenue.
The Chicago-based airplane maker has struggled with lower demand amid the economic slowdown, which has hurt its airline customers. It also has grappled with costly production problems related to its new 787, a lightweight plane built for fuel efficiency.
Repeated delays have put the 787 more than two years behind schedule. Boeing says it plans to conduct the first test flight of the plane by year's end and book a $2.5 billion charge for three of the test planes, which lack commercial value.
Days after announcing the latest 787 schedule, Boeing said on Monday that Scott Carson was stepping down as head of its commercial airplane division and would be succeeded the following day by Jim Albaugh, the head of its defense business.
Boeing delivered 28 planes last month, down from 36 during the same month of 2008, according to figures posted Thursday on its Web site. Boeing, which receives payments when planes are delivered, has received a number of deferrals and some cancellations from customers.
The company said it received 32 orders in August. That's down from 36 in August of 2008.
Despite weaker demand for Boeing's commercial jets, the company has a record backlog of orders and operates a defense business that accounts for about half its overall revenue.