Photos: Boeing 737 Max makes a comeback, rebounds from defect

Boeing delivered 50 jets in May, 13 fewer than European rival Airbus, but a 43 per cent improvement on the same month last year.

Deliveries of the cash-generating Boeing 737 MAX increased to 35 jets in May.

The company handed over only 17 MAXs to customers the prior month, when Boeing found a bracket installation defect that forced it to fix aircraft before delivery.

Boeing also delivered eight widebody 787 Dreamliners, three 767 freighters, three 777 freighters and a 737 that will be modified into a P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft for South Korea.

Boeing has started to deliver reworked 737s, Chief Financial Officer Brian West said in late May, adding the company predicted MAX deliveries would increase from about 30 per month to about 40 per month in the second half of the year.

Boeing booked 69 orders in May, including 59 MAXs and 10 Dreamliners. It also reported 11 cancellations, which included four 737 MAXs for Air Niugini, six 777 freighters for Hong Kong International Aviation and one 777-300ER for an unidentified customer.

Over the first five months of the year, Boeing delivered 206 aircraft - fewer than rival Airbus, which has delivered 244 over the same period. Airbus is also slightly ahead on net orders, with 144 to Boeing's 127.

In May, Boeing and Ryanair announced that the latter has selected the largest 737 MAX model to power its future growth with an order for up to 300 airplanes. The purchase agreement is the biggest in Ryanair's history and includes a firm order for 150 737-10 jets and options for 150 more.

In March, Japan Airlines said it had finalised an order for 21 super-efficient 737-8 jets.

In its first quarter results, Boeing said it expects to deliver 400-450 737 airplanes in 2023.

The 737 MAX family has the latest CFM International LEAP-1B engines, advanced technology winglets and other aerodynamic enhancements to improve performance. More than 50 airlines globally are operating over 900 737 MAX airplanes, which have made over 1.4 million revenue flights totaling more than 3.5 million flight hours since late 2020.