Boeing Sets Third Consecutive Record for Commercial Airplane Orders in 2007

Jan. 4, 2008
The Boeing Company recorded 1,413 net commercial airplane orders during 2007, reaching more than 1,000 orders for an unprecedented third consecutive year, and setting a Boeing record for total orders in a single year.

SEATTLE, Jan. 03, 2008 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] recorded 1,413 net commercial airplane orders during 2007, reaching more than 1,000 orders for an unprecedented third consecutive year, and setting a Boeing record for total orders in a single year.

Boeing also set new order records for the 787 Dreamliner, the 737, and for Boeing freighters.

The 2007 total surpasses the previous Boeing records of 1,044 net orders in 2006 and the 1,002 orders set in 2005. Gross orders in 2007, which exclude cancellations and conversions, totaled 1,423. Boeing recorded 1,050 gross orders in 2006 and 1,029 gross orders in 2005. Unfilled orders for Boeing Commercial Airplanes is now over 3,400 airplanes.

"It has been another strong year for commercial aviation, and we are grateful for our customers' trust in our team, and our products and services," said Scott Carson, Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and chief executive officer. "We deeply appreciate the role we play in our customers' plans for growth and success, and we are focused on meeting our commitments.

"Clearly we've had our share of challenges during the past year, but our customers understand the issues, and market acceptance of our products and services has been nothing short of remarkable," Carson said. "With a balanced base of customers from all regions of the world, from airlines with varied business models, and with strong orders across our product line, we are now focused on executing this strong backlog position."

In total, 80 different customers ordered Boeing airplanes in 2007, including passenger airlines, cargo carriers, leasing companies, and unidentified customers.

"2007 told us that global demand for commercial airplanes remains strong and sustained. And we've responded with what is clearly the strongest product lineup that we've ever had, from the Next-Generation 737 through the 747-8, 767, 777, and our newest family, the 787 Dreamliner," Carson said. "We are able to offer more new-technology airplanes to our customers than ever before, aircraft that are quieter and more fuel efficient, with significantly lower carbon dioxide emissions and reduced impact on local communities."

The 787 program enjoyed a record-setting year with 369 orders in 2007. The Dreamliner is the fastest-selling new airplane program in history with a total of 817 orders since launch in 2004. Contracts finalized at the end of 2007 included the 787th (British Airways) and 800th (Vietnam Airlines/Vietnam Aircraft Leasing) orders for the Dreamliner.

The 737 program had the strongest sales year in its history, setting a third consecutive record, with net orders of 846 airplanes. The previous record totals for a single year for the 737 program were 729 net orders in 2006 and 569 net orders in 2005.

Boeing freighters also enjoyed a third consecutive record sales year, with 83 gross orders for freighters in 2007, compared with gross orders for 81 freighters in 2006 and 74 freighters in 2005.

Twin-aisle commercial airplane sales continued strong, in a year in which both the 767 and 777 surpassed 1,000 total program orders. 777 orders marked the second strongest year in program history, with 141 net orders in 2007. The 747 program finished the year with 21 net orders, and the 767 program had 36 net orders.

Boeing has posted its year-end orders information on its Orders and Deliveries Website http://active.boeing.com/commercial/orders/index.cfm.

The 200 orders booked since the Dec. 18, 2007, update include: Boeing Business Jet (one 737 and one 787), British Airways (24 787s), Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (70 737s, five 747-8Fs, 10 777s, and 15 787s), GOL Airlines (40 737s), Jeju Air (five 737s), VALC (eight 787s), Vietnam Airlines (four 787s), and Unidentified (17 737s).