Boeing reported on Tuesday that it delivered 46 aircraft in January, marking the third-highest delivery total for that month in the company's history. The January deliveries included 38 of the 737 MAX family and five 787 Dreamliners.
January's total was lower than December's 63 deliveries, with December noted as frequently the busiest month for handovers. European planemaker Airbus delivered 19 jets during January, the company said, consisting of 15 A320neo-family aircraft, three A220s and one A350.
Aircraft deliveries are closely monitored by investors because manufacturers typically receive the bulk of customer payments when jets are handed over. In January Boeing reported 107 new orders alongside four cancellations, producing 103 net new orders for the month. That net order figure exceeded Airbus' 49 net orders for January.
Several material orders and cancellations drove the monthly totals. Lessor Aviation Capital Group placed an order for 50 737 MAX jets with Boeing, split evenly between the 737-8 and 737-10 variants. Air India finalized an order for 20 737-8s last month and also publicly disclosed an earlier order for 10 737-10s.
Boeing logged 34 new orders for 787 Dreamliners in January, including 30 placed by Delta Air Lines and four by Taiwan's EVA Airways. At the same time, a small number of orders were canceled: two 737s on order were scrapped - one each from lessor BOC Aviation and Spain's Air Europa - while Papua New Guinea carrier Air Niugini canceled orders for two 787s.
Separately, the company noted that it received more orders than Airbus over the past year, marking the first time that occurred in seven years.
The January figures highlight a busy start to the year for Boeing's delivery and order activity, driven by commitments from leasing companies and major carriers as well as a handful of cancellations that trimmed gross bookings.