By Scott Hamilton
Jan. 13, 2026, © Leeham News: Boeing delivered 600 airliners last year, its best year since 2018—the last normal year before the 737 MAX grounding began in March 2020. In 2018, Boeing delivered 813 airliners.
The MAX grounding lasted 21 months. This was followed by the COVID-19 pandemic beginning in April 2020, lasting about two years. In October 2020, deliveries of most 787s were suspended due to a production flaw. From September to November in 2024, Boeing’s assembly workforce, the IAM 751, went on strike for 53 days, halting all deliveries.
Steady progress
Boeing delivered 447 737s last year, including a handful of 737 NGs, the airplane used for the military P-8 and the Wedgetail. This compares with 580 737 NGs and MAXes in 2018. Deliveries of the MAX, which entered service in May 2017, were ramping up. Last year’s 737 deliveries were 77% of 2018’s.
The 600 deliveries last year were 74% of 2018’s deliveries.
Deliveries of the 787 are 60% of 2018’s deliveries.
While Boeing’s performance is well below the 2018 level, steady progress has been made since 2021, when the grounding of the MAX was lifted, and the effects of the COVID pandemic lessened. Progress was interrupted in 2024 when the IAM 751 went on strike at midnight on Sept. 12 for 53 days.
Unlike Airbus yesterday, Boeing did not hold a media briefing.
Boeing announced today a breakthrough order from Delta Air Lines for 30+30 787-10s. Delta was the only of the Big Three US carriers without an order for the 787. Northwest Airlines was a launch customer for the 787, but after it merged into Delta, the latter continually deferred the order and eventually canceled it. Delta, with aging Boeing 767s still in its fleet, has been a large operator of Airbus wide-body aircraft. Northwest operated A330-300s, which became Delta aircraft upon the merger. Delta has a large fleet and backlog of A330-900s and A350s. The addition of 787-10s is a big win for Boeing.
Boeing and Aviation Capital Group today also announced an order for 25 737-8s and 25 737-10s.
Related
