=20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This article was sent to you by someone who found it on SFGate. The original article can be found on SFGate.com here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/news/archive/2004/10/01/f= inancial1439EDT0179.DTL --------------------------------------------------------------------- Friday, October 1, 2004 (AP) Boeing delivers 67 airplanes in third quarter (10-01) 11:39 PDT CHICAGO (AP) -- Boeing Co. delivered 67 commercial airplanes in the third quarter of this year, up from 65 a year earlier, and remained slightly ahead of its pace from 2003. The aerospace giant needs another 67 deliveries in the fourth quarter to meet its 2004 estimate of 285 airplanes, which would still leave it behind Airbus for the second straight year. It delivered 71 commercial planes in the fourth quarter of 2003 and 281 for the full year. The company said Friday that the bulk of its deliveries -- 49 -- in the July-through-September quarter were for its single-aisle 737. The company also delivered eight widebody 777s, among others. Boeing, which is based in Chicago but has commercial airplane operations in Seattle, is in fierce competition with its European rival. Airbus delivered more airplanes than Boeing for the first time last year. Top Boeing executives, working to promote the mid-sized 7E7 that will start flying commercially in 2008, gave presentations on the new plane to state, local and business officials this week in Midwest cities where large suppliers are based. Alan Mulally, president and chief executive of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, reiterated after a speech in Chicago on Friday that the company is talking to 30 airlines about orders for more than 600 7E7s. He said the company has proposal acceptances for 200 planes and will announce 7E7 orders by the end of the year. Asked about Airbus' reported plan to modify A330-200s in order to make them as economical as 7E7s, Mulally said: "No matter how they do it, they're not going to be able to create the value proposition of the 7E7. In order to do that, you have to build a whole new airplane." Boeing shares rose 50 cents to $52.12 in afternoon trading on the New Yo= rk Stock Exchange. The stock is up 24 percent this year. On the Net: www.boeing.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 2004 AP