An aerial photo shows a Boeing 737 Max aircraft parked on the tarmac at the Boeing factory in Renton, Washington, on March 21, 2019.
Lindsay Watson | Reuters
boeing companyThe latest Max crisis is forcing some of its largest customers to reconsider their growth plans this year and beyond, several airline CEOs said on Tuesday.
Their comments underscore how Boeing’s top buyers are feeling the impact of its problems: Quality control problems are mounting, production is growing slowly and certification of new planes is years behind schedule.
Southwest AirlinesAirlines that operate only Boeing 737 planes cut their 2024 capacity forecasts and said they are reassessing financial guidance for 2024, citing fewer Boeing deliveries this year than previously expected: 46 Boeing 737 Max planes, down from 79 .
“Boeing needs to become a better company and the delivery will follow,” Southwest Airlines Chief Executive Bob Jordan said Tuesday at a J.P. Morgan industry conference.
Alaska Airlines said on Tuesday that its 2024 capacity estimates are “evolving due to uncertainty about aircraft delivery timelines due to increased FAA and Department of Justice scrutiny of Boeing and its operations.”
United Airlines Chief Executive Scott Kirby told a JPMorgan conference on Tuesday that the airline has asked Boeing to stop production of the Max 10 planes that have not yet been certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and produce more of the Max 9 planes that are already flying. machine.
“It’s hard to say when Max 10 will be certified,” Kirby said. In January, Kirby said the airline would develop a fleet plan without the Max 10 due to flight delays.
United Airlines told employees on Friday that it will have to suspend pilot recruitment this spring because of the late arrival of new Boeing aircraft, CNBC reported.
Boeing’s latest crisis stemmed from a door panel exploding mid-air on a Max 9 plane, fueling frustration among airline bosses in recent months. Alaska Airlines Flights in January. The accident intensified scrutiny of Boeing, with a preliminary investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board showing that bolts on the door panel appeared to be unattached as the plane left the company’s factory in Washington state.
“We are focused on implementing changes to improve quality across our entire production system and taking the time necessary to deliver high-quality airplanes that meet all regulatory requirements,” Boeing said in an emailed statement. “We will continue to work with our valued customers on these issues. issues and actions to address them.”
The FAA has halted Boeing’s plans to increase production and said a recent audit “identified noncompliance issues with Boeing’s manufacturing process controls, parts handling and storage, and product controls.”
Boeing Chief Executive Dave Calhoun and other leaders have vowed to eliminate quality control problems and have repeatedly paused work to discuss issues with workers.
On Tuesday, Boeing Commercial Airplanes Chief Executive Stan Deal told employees that the company would work with employees who found noncompliance issues during audits to ensure they “fully understand work instructions and procedures” and implement weekly compliance checks and plan for this year’s review. More reviews will be conducted every month.
In a note to employees, Deere said workers must “strictly follow every step of our manufacturing procedures and processes” and “always be alert to potential safety hazards,” telling workers “you have every right to speak with your manager or Manager reports this situation”.this Speak freely portal website, so we address the issue immediately rather than passing the risk to the next person or position. “
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