Boeing, Airbus hit by canceled orders

PARIS - Agence France-Presse

Employees take photos after a new Boeing 787 Dreamliner built for Air India is rolled-off the production line at Boeing’s new production facilities in South Carolina. AFP photo

Boeing and Airbus suffered major order cancellations last month, with airlines dropping 25 787 Dreamliners and seven A350s, according to data released by the aircraft manufacturers on Monday.

With 25 cancellations of 787 Dreamliners, against 19 orders so far this year, Boeing is in negative territory for its flagship aircraft built with composite materials that it says will use 20 percent less fuel than similarly sized aircraft.

A Boeing spokeswoman said China Eastern Airlines had Shanghai Airlines had switched orders of 24 787 Dreamliners for 45 737-88 aircraft. The switch means $800 million less for Boeing at list prices.

A VIP client also canceled an order for a 787 Dreamliner, said Boeing spokeswoman Jennifer Cram, leaving total orders for the aircraft at 854.

For its European counterpart, the cancellation of seven A350-1000 aircraft by Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways represented a loss of $2.2 billion at catalogue prices.

The Emirati airline canceled six other A350-1000 aircraft late last year. Airbus said the airline was going through with 12 of the 25 planes it ordered in 2008.

Airbus also declined to comment on the order figures for the A350-1000, a new aircraft it began assembling last month which also includes many composite materials.

The first A350s are due to be delivered in 2014.

Boeing retained a large advance over Airbus in terms of orders received this year. Boeing’s orders stood at 415 on May 1 against 95 for Airbus on April 31.