Lessors Account For 737 MAX Cancellations In July

Jetlines 737 MAX 7
Credit: Boeing

Boeing’s most recent round of official 737 MAX cancellations was led by lessors, while former Canadian startup candidate Jetlines saw its five-aircraft order wiped off the books, an Aviation Week analysis shows.

Boeing reported 43 cancellations in July—all of them MAXs. Lessors ALAFCO and AerCap accounted for the majority, removing 20 and 15 from their order books, respectively, an Aviation Week Intelligence Network Fleet Data Services analysis showed. Lessor Avolon canceled two orders, while Jetlines’ cancellation and a single Boeing Business Jet/VIP order comprise the rest of the adjustments. 

Jetlines placed its five-aircraft MAX order in 2014 as part of a plan to launch with 737-800s in 2015. In late 2019, Jetlines became part of U.S.-based startup Global Crossing, which is working on launching charter service using Airbus A320s.

Boeing’s updated MAX backlog of unfilled orders stood at 4,129 as of July 31, the company’s website said. Included in that total are more than 450 MAXs that have been built but not delivered to customers during the model’s global grounding. Boeing’s official MAX program figures show 5,258 gross orders and 387 deliveries, leaving 742 gross orders as no longer being accounted for in either the backlog or delivered fleet.

The company’s official figures also list an additional 635 737 MAX orders as being at risk under the ASC 606 accounting standard.

Boeing’s year-to-date figures through July 31 include 441 cancellations—430 of them MAXs—and 59 gross orders.

Airbus reported no cancellations in July and has 67 through 2020’s first seven months, against 369 gross orders.

—Data analysis by Bo-Goran Lundkvist and Brian Bostick.

Sean Broderick

Senior Air Transport & Safety Editor Sean Broderick covers aviation safety, MRO, and the airline business from Aviation Week Network's Washington, D.C. office.