Boeing has reported more monthly plane deliveries than its close competitor Airbus for the first time since the grounding of its 737 MAX in 2019, Reuters reported on Wednesday.
Boeing said Tuesday it delivered 26 passenger planes to top Airbus' previously disclosed total of 21 total deliveries in January.
MAX deliveries are vital to Boeing's financial rebound this year after a sharp decline in demand for its larger, more profitable wide-body aircraft because of the coronavirus pandemic that added to the company's burdens in 2020.
Boeing has been working through a backlog of around 400 737 MAX planes, down from about 450 at the end of November, that were manufactured during the company's 20-month grounding but could not be delivered.
Boeing has a total backlog of 4,016 planes. Delivery volume of other plane versions remain low.
Boeing's deliveries for January included 21 reactivated 737 MAXs. Southwest Airlines ordered six of the jets, United and American took five each while Alaska Air ordered two. Brazil's Gol and Panama's Copa had three each.
Czech airline Smartwings canceled one order each for the 737 MAX, while three orders for 747-8 cargo planes were canceled by Russian carrier Volga-Dnepr. Jordan's Royal Jordanian scrapped an order for one 787-8 Dreamliner.
Airbus had no cancellations last month but reported zero new orders. Boeing said it plans to deliver about half of the approximately 450 completed 737 MAX it has in inventory this year.
Boeing reported a record loss last year, according to CNN. A huge chunk of the company's income is derived from jet sales at the time of delivery. They are also crucial for airlines, despite the still-sluggish demand for flight, as the new jet are designed to be more fuel-efficient compared to the ones they will be replacing, the report said.
