2014 was a pivotal year for aerospace manufacturer Boeing. Here's why

Boeing has a momentous 2014, smashing its previous record for the most commercial airplanes delivered in a single year. For the second consecutive year, Boeing beat its own record to manufacture 723 aircraft.  

The company's sales team also booked 1,432 net orders, carrying a value of $232.7 billion at list prices, breaking the previous all-time high set in 2007. Boeing's unfilled commercial orders stood at 5,789 at the end of the year – also a new all-time high for the manufacturing behemoth.

“I'm extremely proud of the entire Boeing team, and all of the hard work that went into delivering and selling a record number of commercial airplanes this past year,” said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Ray Conner.

All three Boeing Commercial Airplanes production sites – Everett and Renton, Washington and North Charleston, South Carolina – each set new site records for airplane deliveries.

In 2014, three individual commercial programs achieved notable milestones, each a single-year record:

• 737 program delivered 485 of the single-aisle airplanes
• 777 program delivered 99 airplanes
• 787 program delivered 114 Dreamliners, including the first 787-9 to launch customer Air New Zealand and first direct deliveries to 13 airline customers

Of the 1,432 net commercial orders Boeing booked in 2014, the Next-Generation 737 and 737 MAX led the way with 1,104 orders, followed by the 777 and 777X with 283 orders.

Boeing continues to bring new products and services to the market, including the launch of the 737 MAX 200 in September, a variant based on the 737 MAX 8. The airplane can accommodate up to 200 seats, increasing revenue potential and offering customers up to 20 percent better fuel efficiency.

“In the face of fierce competition, we had a strong year,” said Conner. “In 2015 we'll remain focused on meeting our customer commitments, and prepare for key milestones on our development programs, including the start of assembly of the first 737 MAX and firm configuration for the 777X.”

As of Dec. 31, 2014, orders, delivers and unfilled orders by program were as follows: