Boeing takes 18 new aircraft orders, cancels 26 In recent week

Boeing Co.’s commercial airplane customers in the past week placed 18 new plane orders, but canceled orders for 26 aircraft, including 25 orders for the much-delayed 787 Dreamliner.

Boeing reported the transactions for the week, ended May 5, on its Web site Thursday. The company didn’t identify customers who canceled orders for the 787s as well as for a single 777 model.

New orders included a deal with Turkish Airlines for five 777s, and an order for 13 737s from an unidentified customer, Boeing reported.

So far in 2009, Boeing has received 58 new orders and 59 cancellations.

Across the commercial airline industry, Boeing’s customers are struggling to find financing for new aircraft, while coping with a falloff in passenger traffic. Still, even if they are not growing, many airlines are eager to replace older planes with new, more fuel-efficient aircraft.

Boeing has said it will help customers with financing this year, which it believes will ensure all planned deliveries can be made for 2009.

Going into 2010, the picture gets cloudy. Boeing and rival Airbus have already reduced aircraft production as demand for some new aircraft is slowing, and banks remain closed to aircraft lending.