Boeing Doubles 787 Deliveries in 3Q

Boeing Co (NYSE:BA) said on Thursday it doubled deliveries of its fuel-efficient 787 jets in the third quarter to 12, compared with six in the second quarter. Boeing is years behind its initial delivery schedule on the new light-weight, carbon-composite 787 aircraft after extensive development delays.

Overall, the company delivered 149 jets in the third quarter, down from 150 in the second, but up from 137 in the first quarter. Deliveries rose 17 percent from a year ago.

Orders rose sharply in the latest quarter, hitting 404, compared with 36 in the second quarter. Orders for the new 737 MAX drove the increase, Boeing said.

The company logged orders for 377 of the single-aisle 737 jets in the quarter, up from just three in the second quarter of 2012, and compared with 243 in the third quarter of 2011.

Among the big buyers, United Airlines ordered 100 of the 737 MAX planes, and Air Lease Corp and GE Capital Aviation Services ordered 75 each. Virgin Australia Airlines ordered 23.