Year Ending Positively For Boeing

[straitman]

A good article that refers to 2012 as 'The year of Boeing'

Year Ending Positively For Boeing

Dec 21, 2011

By Michael Mecham San Francisco

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Boeing Commercial Airplanes is showing a strong order finish for 2011, bringing a future revenue flourish to more fundamental advances it has made in production during the past few weeks that should ease the way its factories meet a busy schedule in 2012. BCA’s current order book, as of Dec. 14, grew by 251 in just a week to reach a net 778 for the year. Topping the list was the key endorsement by Southwest Airlines for Boeing’s newest project, the 737 reengining program called MAX. Besides adding 58 737 Next Generations to what is already the industry’s biggest 737 fleet, Southwest will be the MAX launch customer with a combined firm order for 150 in the 737-7 and 737-8 configurations, plus 150 options. Being at the head of the 737 ordering pack is a familiar position for the Dallas-based carrier, which also launched the 737-300, -500 and NG series. First deliveries are set for 2017, two years after Airbus says it will be ready with its reengining program, the A320NEO. Although the Southwest order has a list price value of $19 billion, Boeing and Southwest officials acknowledge the real price was deeply discounted. An indication of how much comes from Southwest Chief Operating Officer Mike Van de Ven, who says the total 350 airplanes Southwest has on order with Boeing, counting previous commitments, will require it to make an average annual capital expenditure of $1.2 billion from 2012-22, or $12 billion for the entire period.