Boeing delivered 57 commercial aircraft in September 2026 and booked 165 gross orders with no cancellations, making it the planemaker's strongest order month of the year, according to figures released on Tuesday, October 13. A 100-aircraft 737 MAX commitment from Turkish Airlines led the month, while the September handovers lifted Boeing's third-quarter total to 161 commercial jets.
September deliveries
The 57 September deliveries compare with 51 in August and 55 in September 2025. The mix was 43 Boeing 737 MAX, eight 787 Dreamliners, two 777 Freighters and four 767s. Three of the 767s went to Boeing's defense unit for conversion into KC-46 tankers.
FlightGlobal noted that Boeing has now handed over more 737 MAX jets in the first nine months of 2026 than in any previous three-quarter period, and The Seattle Times also described the year's MAX output as a record. The narrowbody line accounted for three quarters of the month's handovers.
Turkish Airlines tops the order book
Of the 165 gross orders logged in September, 100 came from Turkish Airlines, which placed a firm order for Boeing 737-8 aircraft with options for 50 more and the flexibility to substitute the larger 737-10. Lufthansa added 20 737 MAX, Biman Bangladesh Airlines ordered six 737 MAX and five 787s, and Ethiopian Airlines ordered eight 777-8 Freighters plus two 777Fs. Unidentified customers accounted for six 737 MAX and 18 787s.
Boeing recorded no cancellations in the month. Its backlog rose to 6,371 aircraft at September 30, up from 6,156 at the end of August, and net orders for the year to date reached 618.
Third quarter in numbers
Boeing delivered 161 commercial aircraft in the third quarter of 2026, bringing its January to September total to 475. The 737 programme accounted for 124 of the quarter's deliveries and 367 for the year so far.
Widebody deliveries in the quarter comprised 22 787s, ten 767s and five 777s, taking their nine-month totals to 62, 26 and 20 respectively.
Boeing's Defense, Space & Security division reported 33 deliveries in the quarter and 98 for the year to date. These included 15 new or remanufactured AH-64 Apache helicopters, three new or renewed Chinooks, seven KC-46 tankers, two F-15s, two F/A-18s, one MH-139 helicopter and three commercial or civil satellites. No P-8 aircraft were delivered in the quarter.
The company cautioned that the delivery figures remain provisional until it publishes its quarterly financial results.
How it compares with Airbus
Boeing's monthly output still trails its European rival. Airbus handed over 72 aircraft in September, keeping it ahead on volume as both manufacturers push to clear long backlogs. Boeing's order momentum, however, has picked up, with the Turkish Airlines deal and a string of 787 commitments giving the US manufacturer its best month of 2026 for new business.
For airlines, the figures matter mostly as a signal of how quickly long-delayed aircraft will arrive. Carriers across Europe, Asia and the Middle East have planned capacity growth around 737 MAX and 787 deliveries that slipped repeatedly in recent years. A steadier 737 rate, together with higher widebody output, would ease pressure on fleets that have been kept flying longer than planned.
What to watch
Boeing's next milestone is its third-quarter earnings report, where the provisional delivery numbers will be confirmed alongside cash flow and production guidance. Investors and customers will look for updates on the 737 production rate, 787 output, and the certification timeline for the 737-10, the variant Turkish Airlines can switch to under its order.
Sources: Reuters via MarketScreener, Aviation24, FlightGlobal, Air Data News, Fleet Wire.
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