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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Mike Benbow, Business Editor benbow@heraldnet.com   Published: Friday, October 3, 2008 New orders lift Boeing's 2008 total to 623 By Michelle Dunlop Herald Writer EVERETT -- The Boeing Co. added orders for 13 aircraft this week, including a request for a 747 jumbo business jet. The aerospace company's new requests also included an order from the U.S. Navy for two 737-based P-8A Poseidon submarine-seeking aircraft. And the requests push Boeing's order tally to 623 for the year, despite an ongoing Machinists' strike. Altogether, Boeing received orders for one 747, three 737s and nine 767s, according to the company's orders and deliveries Web site updated Thursday. The 767 orders come from Japan's All Nippon Airways, which had revealed the order last week. The airline is picking up the 767s to see it through until Boeing delivers its much delayed 787 Dreamliner jets. Boeing has received 20 orders for its 767 this year, including nine from an unidentified customer last week. Boeing did not reveal the customer of the 747 business jet or the customer for one 737 jet on its orders Web site. The 747 makes the third order for a jumbo business jet this year. It also boosts requests for Boeing's 747-8 program to 106. Seventy-eight of the 747-8 orders are for the freighter version. The jet maker still trails its rival Airbus in aircraft orders this year. Airbus listed 708 net orders at the end of August. Earlier this week, Airbus received an order for three of its A340 aircraft from Nigeria's Arik Air. In other Boeing news, the company's customer, Virgin Blue Airlines Group, announced that it had to delay the launch of its long-haul international airline V Australia because of the Machinists' strike. V Australia was supposed to kick off operation Dec. 15, using three Boeing 777-300 Extended Range jets. But Boeing can't guarantee delivery of those aircraft due to the strike, Virgin Blue said in a press statement. Virgin Blue said it pushed back the launch date of V Australia to Feb. 28, 2009. The company is contacting customers who booked holiday travel to offer alternative arrangements. Virgin Blue said it will address the impact of the delay with Boeing. Boeing also updated its employment numbers for Washington state on Thursday, adding just 57 jobs in the state for September. That brings Boeing's total employment in Washington to 76,849. Boeing hired in new Machinists in September despite the strike. But the company's overall hiring trend in Washington has slowed in recent months. After a tumultuous day on Wall Street, Boeing's stock dropped 5.37 percent, or $3.04, to close at $53.58. READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

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