Boeing 737 aircraft on the ground in Renton, Washington.
Leslie Josephs | CNBC
Boeing The company delivered 33 aircraft in September, six more than during the same period a year earlier, as the company and its customers monitor the impact of the mechanics' strike, now in its fourth week.
As of September, Boeing had delivered 291 planes, far fewer than the 371 planes it delivered in the first nine months of 2023. Rival Airbus had delivered 447 planes this year through August.
Last month's deliveries were led by 27 of Boeing's best-selling 737 MAX aircraft to customers including… United AirlinesWho got five and Ryanair and Southwest Airlinesof which each took three. Deliveries are key to Boeing. More than $8 billion has been spent this year already with customers paying the bulk of the price when they take delivery of the plane.
The plane is being produced in Renton, Washington, one of the factories where mechanics left their jobs on September 13 after workers voted overwhelmingly against a tentative agreement the company reached with their union. The two sides returned to the negotiating table this week, although the union rejected a sweet offer from Boeing last month.
All but 10 of the 27 Max jets were delivered before the strike began, according to Jefferies aviation analyst Sheila Kahyoglu. In a note Monday, it expected Boeing to produce 25 Max jets per month if the strike ends in October, but the company's planned increase to 38 Max jets per month would be delayed by a year.
Boeing is scheduled to announce its quarterly results on October 23, when it will provide details of the financial impact of the strike.
September deliveries also included four 787 Dreamliners, which are being manufactured at Boeing's non-union plant in South Carolina. During the month, Boeing recorded 66 total orders for new aircraft.
Boeing has spent much of this year dealing with the fallout after a disaster on one of its new 737 MAX 9 planes in January, when a door seal that was missing a key bolt exploded.
The company's backlog stands at 5,456 aircraft.
