Boeing kicked off 2026 with an acceleration on the commercial and production front.
In April, the US aerospace giant recorded 135 new net orders, bringing the total for the first four months of the year to 284 orders, the highest level in the last decade for this period. Deliveries of commercial aircraft are also increasing, while certification programs for the 777X continue and delays persist on the 787 related to premium seats, reports Reuters.
Boeing’s recovery is also supported by reduced losses. The company recorded a net loss of 7 million dollars in the first quarter, down from a deficit of 31 million dollars a year ago, partly thanks to a 10% increase in sales to commercial airlines. The manufacturer’s order backlog has also reached a record figure of 695 billion dollars.
These results follow Boeing’s efforts to remedy years of safety and production issues, notes Quartz. CEO Kelly Ortberg, who took office in August 2024, has committed to stabilizing the company after several serious quality issues, including the incident with the door latch cap on a 737 MAX in January 2024.
All the details.
THE SURGE IN ORDERS IN APRIL
In April alone, Boeing recorded 135 new net orders, a figure that nearly matches the total accumulated in the first three months of the year. Overall, in the first four months of 2026, the group received 284 new net orders, net of cancellations and conversions.
This is the best result for this period of the year since 2014. Despite this, the American manufacturer remains behind its European rival Airbus, which had recorded 405 net orders by April 30.
GOOD PERFORMANCE ON THE DELIVERY FRONT TOO
On the operational front, Boeing delivered 47 commercial aircraft in April, one more than the previous month, while Airbus delivered 67 aircraft last month. Investors closely monitor deliveries as it is at this stage that customers make most of the payments due for new aircraft,” explains Quartz. Among the aircraft delivered in April were 34 Boeing 737 MAX and six Boeing 787.
THE MOST REQUESTED MODELS FROM THE AMERICAN MANUFACTURER
Specifically, April orders for Boeing mainly concerned single-aisle and wide-body programs. In particular, the group recorded 57 orders for the Boeing 737 Max and 51 for the Boeing 787, largely attributed to unidentified customers.
The order backlog also includes 28 orders for the Boeing 777X, also from unspecified customers.
787 DELAYS AND EXPECTATIONS FOR THE 777X
However, some industrial issues remain. Delays in the certification of premium seats continue to slow deliveries of the Boeing 787.
Despite this, CFO Jay Malave confirmed during the quarterly earnings conference call that Boeing still expects to deliver between 90 and 100 units of the 787 during 2026.
At the same time, the group continues to work on the certification of the Boeing 777X, a program marked by years of production and regulatory delays. On May 7, the first Boeing 777-9 configured for passenger transport made its maiden flight.
HOW AIRBUS IS DOING
For its part, Airbus announced that it delivered fewer aircraft in the period ending in April compared to the same period last year, highlighting the pressure on the European manufacturer to accelerate transfers to airlines. The company stated it delivered 67 aircraft in April, bringing the annual total to 181 units, down 5.7% from 192 in the same period a year ago.
Last month the European aerospace giant reported sharply lower first-quarter results, with earnings and deliveries below expectations due to engine supply delays. The European company, while maintaining annual forecasts, is facing supply chain difficulties affecting production and deliveries.
