Boeing’s orders plummet as recession hits airlines

The Boeing Co.’s orders for freight and passenger jets plunged in January, hurt by declining air travel amid the global economic slump.

The Chicago-based aerospace company received orders for just 18 jetliners last month, a 72 percent drop from the 65 planes ordered a year earlier, according to figures posted Thursday on the company’s Web site. Jet deliveries rose by one, totaling 35 planes.

The world’s second-largest plane manufacturer after Europe’s Airbus, Boeing has endured a series of setbacks. It has blamed production glitches and an eight-week strike by union workers last fall for delayed deliveries of new jetliners. The affected aircraft include the world’s top-selling 737 and Boeing’s long-awaited 787, a next-generation aircraft built for fuel efficiency.

Boeing lands first orders of year, for 10 737s

The Boeing Co. posted its first airliner sales of the new year on its Web site Thursday – 10 orders for 737 twin jets from unidentified customers.

The sales of the Renton-made jets are a welcome sign after a 2009 that saw the lowest level of net new orders in 15 years at the company.

Boeing from time to time will post orders on its Web site, but won’t identify who placed those orders at the airlines’ request.

Supplier signs deal for Boeing windshields

Boeing supplier Spirit Aerosystems has signed a contract with PPG Industries to design and supply a new windshield for the next model of Boeing 737s.

The new windshields are designed with a layer of plastic on the cockpit side of the windshield to better protect the pilots from the effects of mid-air bird strikes.

The new windshields, designed to be installed in a planned updated version of the 737, are slightly smaller than existing windshields.

Boeing to drop 737 production output to 21 a month?

A major Boeing supplier predicts the planemaker could drop its 737 production rate at Renton to as few as 21 a month next year.

India airline delays order for Boeing jets

The low-cost division of India’s Jet Airways, JetLite, is postponing deliveries of nine Boeing 737s as it tries to match its traffic with its capacity.

The Indian Web site hindubusinessline.com reported Thursday that the deliveries of the Renton-built 737-800 jets, formerly set for between 2010 and 2012, have been deferred to between 2012 and 2015.

The airline’s executive director, Saroj Datta, said last summer that deferrals were likely to happen.