Boeing's July orders, deliveries drop on lower demand

Boeing Co., the world's second- biggest commercial-jet builder, said it won 44 orders and delivered 33 aircraft last month, bringing total purchase contracts this year to 129 and total shipments to 279, according to the Chicago-based company's Web site update today.

That compares with 70 orders and 36 deliveries in July 2008, and 522 orders with 277 deliveries in the first seven months of last year. There have been 89 cancellations so far this year for a net order tally of 40.

Boeing has said it expects to deliver 480 to 485 jets in 2009 before cutting production in 2010 to match lower demand as the recession forces airlines to trim spending. Toulouse, France-based Airbus SAS, Boeing's larger rival, is scheduled to report July figures tomorrow.

Boeing also said today that EgyptAir converted a previous order for two twin-aisle 777s into one for eight single-aisle 737s. The carrier will use the smaller planes to expand its regional routes to and from Cairo, according to a statement. Airlines around the world have reduced capacity on international routes as the recession damped air-travel demand.