Boeing tops 1,000 737 orders for 2012, hits record annual delivery level

The year 2012 is the year of the 737. Much as Airbus broke sales records with its A320neo in 2011, Boeing is experiencing a similar re-writing of its own sales records with the 737 MAX this year.

Earlier this week, Boeing delivered its 377th 737 for the year - a 737-900ER for United Airlines - making 2012 a record delivery year. United Airlines was Boeing's second 737 customer - after Lufthansa - placing a mammoth order (by 1965 standards) for 40 aircraft. When the 737s began going out to customers in 1968, it took Boeing almost eight years to deliver 377 aircraft.

Net year-to-date orders for the 737 Next Generation and the new MAX have totalled 1,031 aircraft. This is almost 200 more than the previous single year record of 846 orders set in 2007. As is typical for the airline industry, the ordering peak occurred just prior to the onset of a major dip in global passenger traffic, triggered by the global financial crisis.