Boeing is struggling to make sales for its best-selling aircraft following a series of safety concerns this year.

The US-based plane maker reported receiving orders for just four new planes in May, marking the second consecutive month without any new orders for its flagship 737 Max. This comes after the blowout of a side panel on a Max during a January flight.

The results, released Tuesday, fell short compared to European competitor Airbus, which netted 15 plane orders in May after accounting for 27 new sales and 12 cancellations.  Aerolineas Argentinas canceled an order for one Max jet, reducing Boeing’s net sales for the month to three.

Airbus delivered 53 planes during the same month, more than double Boeing’s 24 deliveries. Airbus’s strong performance underscores its competitive edge in the market.

Before the two fatal accidents involving the 737 Max, this narrow-body model was a favorite among airlines due to its fuel efficiency, giving room for the Airbus A320neo, which competes directly with the 737 Max, to gain ground.

Airbus A320neo, which has been competing with 737 Max for the same attribute with the Tolouse-based carrier sold 41 of this model in the review period.

These lackluster figures follow an already disappointing April, when Boeing reported seven plane sales, none of which included the Max. Boeing hopes the current slump in orders is a temporary lull before the Farnborough International Airshow next month, an event where significant aircraft deals are cut.

Compounding Boeing’s challenges, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is limiting 737 production.

This restriction comes after a door plug incident involving an Alaska Airlines Max, allegations from whistleblowers about production shortcuts, and reports of falsified inspection records for some 787 Dreamliner jets.

FAA announced it will not allow the plane maker to expand production of the 737 MAX aircraft due to ongoing safety issues.

The FAA’s decision is likely to exacerbate an existing backlog of orders from airlines, including significant commitments from African carriers like Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways.

At the Dubai Airshow last year, Ethiopian Airlines ordered 11 787 Dreamliners and 20 737 MAX jets, which may now face delays due to the production limitations.

Kenya Airways said March that its effort to secure new capacity had been hampered by a backlog of orders at Boeing, thwarting the carrier’s plans to acquire new aircraft.

With Boeing’s production challenges and Airbus’s competitive edge, the coming months will be crucial for Boeing to regain momentum and secure new orders.

gandae@businessdayafrica.org