Boeing’s jetliner deliveries rise

Boeing Co. said Thursday that first-quarter deliveries rose 8.2% as it built more 737 jetliners and moved closer to its goal of surpassing rival Airbus.

The Chicago-based company said customers took possession of 106 aircraft: 83 737s, 17 777s, three 747s and three 767s. The total is up from 98 a year earlier.

Chief Executive James McNerney boosted output, producing four more of the 737s than in the fourth quarter. Deliveries are important because aircraft manufacturers don’t book the profit from a sale until the planes are delivered.

Boeing plans to increase production of commercial aircraft by as much as 12% this year, forecasting jetliner deliveries of 440 to 445. Its projections call for increasing deliveries 17% to 515 to 520 jetliners in 2008, the year it anticipates regaining the title of biggest commercial manufacturer from rival Airbus.

Toulouse, France-based Airbus said it delivered 115 planes in the first quarter. Boeing’s orders for the first quarter exceeded Airbus’ by 51 airliners.

Shares of Boeing rose 23 cents Thursday to $90.50.