Boeing airplane deliveries slipped in February, Dreamliner problem lingers

Boeing delivered 22 jetliners to customers in February, its fewest since August, as a pause in Dreamliner handovers continues to weigh on the company.

Twenty of those aircraft were 737 Max planes. Deliveries of planes are crucial for Boeing and other manufacturers because that’s when customers pay the bulk of the plane’s price.

Deliveries of the wide-body 787 Dreamliner have been paused for most of the time since fall 2020 as Boeing addresses a series of manufacturing flaws that have required fixes and more in-depth inspections.

American Airlines last month announced additional cuts to its international flying because of Dreamliner delivery delays. It said it expects to receive 10 Dreamliners this year, down from the 13 it previously expected.

Boeing logged 37 new orders last month. Thirty-two of them were 737 Maxes, including 18 for lessor Air Lease. An identified customer bought five 777 freighters as air cargo demand continues to remain robust during the pandemic. Air Lease debooked four Dreamliners.