• Boeing delivered only 348 commercial jets in 2024, a staggering decline of over one-third from the previous year.
• The company lagged behind Airbus, which delivered 766 aircraft last year, marking Boeing's sixth consecutive year of underperformance.
• Production challenges, including a major worker strike and regulatory actions, have plagued Boeing, particularly affecting the performance of the popular 737 Max model.

Boeing's recent delivery report reveals a calamitous year for the aviation giant, which handed over just 348 commercial aircraft in 2024, reflecting a drop of more than a third compared to the 528 jets delivered in 2023. This staggering decline has positioned Boeing significantly behind its European rival Airbus, which reported 766 deliveries for the same year.

The year was particularly challenging for Boeing, not only due to the aftermath of an incident in January in which a door plug malfunctioned on an Alaska Airlines flight, but also due to a seven-week strike by machinists that disrupted production across its major facilities. As a result of these setbacks, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) imposed limitations on the production of 737 Max aircraft, which has been pivotal to Boeing’s earnings and has considerably affected its cash flow, crucial for recovering from ongoing financial losses.

Despite the challenges, Boeing anticipates ramping up production in the coming years. However, with only 317 net orders in 2024 compared to Airbus's 826, Boeing's struggles continued to compound. The legacy of the 737 Max crashes that resulted in the deaths of 346 people in prior years continues to haunt the firm, and significant issues must be resolved to rebuild trust with customers and regulators.

CEO Kelly Ortberg aims to foster a culture that prioritizes safety over profitability, emphasizing the need for a workforce that feels heard and secure in their working environment. Boeing has also taken steps towards improving its supply chain management, particularly through the acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems, which is expected to streamline production processes.

As Boeing navigates this tumultuous landscape, the task at hand remains monumental, not only to regain its footing in the market but to indeed challenge Airbus's dominance within the aviation sector. For more details, refer to Business Insider.