Boeing jet deliveries virtually flat in January

Boeing Co.'s commercial jet deliveries rose slightly in January compared with the same month last year, but orders for new airplanes fell sharply, reflecting weaker demand amid the global economic slowdown.

The Chicago-based company says it delivered 35 planes last month. That compares with 34 deliveries in January 2008.

But Boeing says it received orders for just 18 airplanes. That's down 72 percent from January last year, when the company received orders for 65 aircraft.

Boeing is facing lower demand as a deteriorating world economy undermines air traffic.

It posted the monthly delivery and order figures on its Web site.