The American aerospace manufacturer Boeing announced that in the first nine months of this year it lost $7.968 billion, 260% more than in 2023, due to the workers' strike that has been taking place since September 13 and a drop in the delivery of commercial and defense aircraft. The crisis faced by the company began five years ago when two 737 Max-8s crashed under similar circumstances in October 2018 and March 2019, resulting in the deaths of 346 people.
Between January and September, the Chicago-based company reported revenues of $51.275 billion, an 8% year-on-year decrease. In the third quarter of 2024, Boeing had losses of $6.174 billion, 276% more than between July and September of the previous year and its worst figure since the pandemic. In the first nine months of the year, the company delivered 291 commercial aircraft, 22% fewer year-on-year, generating revenues of $18.099 billion, a 23% decrease compared to the same period last year.
Boeing's Chairman and CEO, Kelly Ortberg, mentioned that it will take time to restore Boeing to its former legacy, but with the right focus and culture it can become an iconic leader in the aerospace field again. Ortberg emphasized that, looking ahead, the company will focus on stabilizing the business and improving the execution of its programs. In the third quarter, it delivered 116 commercial aircraft, 10% fewer year-on-year, resulting in revenues of $7.443 billion, a 5% decrease.
The negative figures are due to delays in the deliveries of the 777X and 767 aircraft and the labor stoppage by its main production union, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM). More than 32,000 striking machinists will begin voting today on a new contract proposal offered by the company, and the results of that voting are expected to be announced tonight. In the first three months of the year, the company reported revenues of $17.480 billion, 1% less than the previous year and a figure lower than that forecasted by analysts.
