Shares in aerospace giant Boeing (BA -0.43%) declined by 32.1% in 2024, according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence. It was an eventful year for the company, marred by operational mishaps, industrial action, senior management changes, significant cash outflows, and disappointing airplane deliveries. Here's what happened in 2024 and a sneak peek at 2024.
Boeing's challenging year in commercial aerospace
Last year had hardly begun before a high-profile door plug blowout on a Boeing 737 MAX on an Alaska Airlines flight raised renewed safety and quality concerns at Boeing. Then-CEO Dave Calhoun deliberately slowed deliveries while the company worked on improving quality control in the spring. Slowing 737 MAX deliveries is one of the last things Boeing wants to do and the last thing airlines wish to see, but everybody wants to see Boeing ensure the quality of their airplanes.
It gets worse. A protracted dispute over a new labor contract led to strikes and the shutdown of production lines in the autumn, notably on the 737 MAX. The result is that Boeing got nowhere near its aim of achieving an initial rate of 38 deliveries a month for the 737 MAX.
Data source: Boeing presentations. Chart by author.
In addition, there was bad news on the widebody 777X airplane program. The successor to the widebody 777, the new airplane was initially supposed to have its first delivery in 2020. But management pushed the timeline out again and expects the first delivery in 2026. That's not only an issue for airlines waiting for the planes, but it also means more costs for Boeing and cash tied up in inventory.
Boeing's challenging year in defense
As the chart below shows, it was another extremely challenging year at Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS). The segment battled ongoing supply chain pressures and incurred charges and losses on problematic fixed-price development programs procured in less inflationary times.
Data source: Boeing presentations. Chart by author.
Boeing's fresh start in 2025
On a more positive note, industry veteran Kelly Ortberg replaced Calhoun as CEO in August, and Boeing parted company with its BDS CEO, Ted Colbert, in September.
Image source: Getty Images.
While Ortberg has his hands full turning Boeing around, the recent large order for the 737 MAX from Pegasus Airlines highlights that airlines still have the confidence to place orders. Also, the company still has a multi-year backlog of orders for the 737 MAX, it can work through the problematic defense programs (most of the defense segment revenue is profitable), and there's no shortage of demand for widebodies like the 777X.
If Ortberg can improve execution, Boeing could have a great 2025 as it works toward developing a new plane by 2035.
