Thursday, January 6, 2011

Boeing Hits 2010 Airplane Delivery Target; Achieves Strong Order Bookings - Jan 6, 2011

SEATTLE, Jan. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) recorded 462 commercial airplane deliveries in 2010, meeting company guidance of approximately 460 deliveries during the year. Boeing posted 530 net commercial orders for the year as air carriers transition from economic recovery to expansion. Boeing Commercial Airplanes maintains a strong order base of 3,443 unfilled orders.
"With 376 deliveries in 2010, the Next-Generation 737 set a company delivery record for the second consecutive year," said Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "The 737 is the industry's most in-demand airplane with 486 net orders as carriers continue to rely on its superior economics, versatility and continuous performance enhancements."
The 777 led Boeing's twin-aisle programs with 74 deliveries and 46 net orders in 2010 as the airplane continues to rank at the top of operator, investor and frequent traveler polls for its efficiency and passenger comfort.
Program orders, deliveries and backlog at the end of 2010 were as follows:

             Gross Orders
     Net Orders
     Deliveries
     Backlog Units

   737
    508
                      486
                   376
                  2,186

   777
      76
                        46
                     74
                   253
   747
     1
                        (-1)
                     0
                    107

   767
     3
                      3
                    12
                     50

   787
     37
                       (-4)
                   N/A
                     84


During 2010, Boeing announced a series of production rate increases throughout its product line to meet increasing airplane demand from carriers worldwide. The Next-Generation 737 production rate will grow to 35 per month in early 2012 and 38 per month the second quarter of 2013. The 777 production rate will rise from five to seven per month in mid-2011 and grow to 8.3 per month in the first quarter of 2013. The 747-8 Freighter is slated for first delivery mid-year and first delivery of the 747-8 Intercontinental is planned for late 2011. The 787 Dreamliner continues in flight test. Boeing expects to provide 2011 commercial airplane delivery guidance when the company releases year-end earnings Jan. 26.
Boeing Commercial Airplanes highlights in 2010 included:
Flight testing of six 787 Dreamliner airplanes passes 2,400 hours.
Pilots from ANA, the first 787 customer, fly the Dreamliner.
747-8 Freighter surpasses 1,500 flight hours.
900th 777 delivery.
747-8 Intercontinental reaches final assembly and achieves power on.
1,000th 767 prepares to enter Final Assembly.
First deliveries of Next-Generation 737s with the new Boeing Sky Interior.
Launching 787 GoldCare with TUI Travel – first of new comprehensive service offerings for customers.
On-time performance for urgent customer support requests of 99 percent through the Operations Center.
Boeing and China partner on sustainable aviation biofuel.
Last P-8A test airplane enters final assembly.
A detailed report of Boeing Commercial Airplanes orders and deliveries is available on the Orders and Deliveries website.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this report may be "forward-looking" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "expects," "intends," "plans," "projects," "believes," "estimates," "targets," "anticipates," and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions about future events that may not prove to be accurate. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in these forward-looking statements. As a result, these statements speak to events only as of the date they are made and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by federal securities laws. Specific factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements we make regarding our guidance relating to future financial and operating performance, the effect of economic conditions in the United States and globally, and general industry conditions as they may impact us or our customers, as well as the other important factors disclosed previously and from time to time in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Boeing Hits 2010 Airplane Delivery Target; Achieves Strong Order Bookings - Jan 6, 2011

Boeing Delivers 4 More Super Hornets to Australia Ahead of Schedule

AMBERLEY, Queensland, Jan. 6, 2011 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] delivered four new F/A-18F Super Hornets to Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Amberley in December, expanding the RAAF's fleet of the advanced multirole fighters to 15. The delivery enabled the RAAF's achievement of Initial Operating Capability (IOC) with its first Super Hornet squadron, the Amberley-based No. 1.
Boeing has delivered all 15 Super Hornets to Australia ahead of schedule.
"Early delivery of our new Super Hornets at Amberley has been a vital part of our path toward IOC for our first Super Hornet squadron, which we have now achieved ahead of schedule," said RAAF Group Capt. Steve Roberton, Officer Commanding 82 Wing, which operates the Super Hornet. "As we've continued to hit our marks on time -- or early, in many instances -- with the Super Hornet program, we've enabled the RAAF to ensure Australia's regional air superiority as we transition from the F-111 and classic Hornet."
The December arrival was the third Super Hornet delivery to the base during 2010. Three aircraft in the latest delivery were prewired for potential conversion to electronic attack capability during production at Boeing facilities in St. Louis; the remaining nine aircraft in the contract will be prewired in the same way before delivery to the RAAF's No. 6 Squadron.
"The Boeing Super Hornet team has surpassed expectations by delivering 15 aircraft to the RAAF in 2010 instead of the 12 originally scheduled," said Carolyn Nichols, Australian Super Hornet program manager for Boeing. "Additionally, each aircraft has been delivered within budget. We are fully committed to ensuring the same delivery success and budget excellence throughout 2011. We congratulate the men and women of the RAAF on the outstanding achievement of reaching No. 1 Squadron's Super Hornet IOC ahead of schedule."
The Australian government announced in March 2007 that it would acquire 24 of the advanced Block II versions of the Super Hornet, all of which are equipped with the Raytheon-built APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar.
The Boeing Super Hornet is a multirole aircraft, able to perform virtually every mission in the tactical spectrum, including air superiority, day/night strike with precision-guided weapons, fighter escort, close air support, suppression of enemy air defenses, maritime strike, reconnaissance, forward air control and tanker missions. Boeing has delivered more than 440 F/A-18E/Fs to the U.S. Navy. Every Super Hornet produced has been delivered on or ahead of schedule and on budget.
A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world's largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $34 billion business with 68,000 employees worldwide.

Boeing Delivers 4 More Super Hornets to Australia Ahead of Schedule