CHICAGO (AP) — Boeing Co. said its customers ordered just 142 commercial airplanes last year as the recession forced airlines to shrink.

The net total reported yesterday was Boeing's lowest since at least 2003 and just one-tenth of the 1,413 orders in 2007.

Meanwhile, Boeing delivered 481 commercial planes last year, up 28 percent after a massive strike in 2008 slowed production. The biggest seller was Boeing's workhorse 737. The company delivered 372 of those last year, and has orders for a further 2,076.

Boeing's total backlog for all commercial aircraft is 3,375 planes. The big issue for Boeing has been its 787, a new widebody long-range jet that flew for the first time last month — more than two years late. Boeing got through December without any additional 787 cancellations, and finished the year with 83 net cancellations. Boeing said it has orders for 851 of the planes, and it expects to begin deliveries by the end of this year.

The company expects to provide commercial airplane delivery guidance for 2010 on January 27, when it reports fourth-quarter financial results.

Competitor Airbus will report its 2009 orders and deliveries on Tuesday. Through the end of November it had 194 net orders and 437 deliveries.