Delays in Boeing’s production of the 737-9 Max, caused by a new string of events during the past six months, are rippling out into the aviation industry.
At a time when airlines are finally profitable and seeing unprecedented demand, many have had their plans put on hold by the manufacturer, allegedly due to faulty workmanship on Boeing’s production line. Expansion of schedules, big strategies, additional frequencies and grand growth plans have been put into a holding pattern.
LOT Polish Airways is one of the airlines now awaiting new Max aircraft and expects to see them on the apron soon.
“Three Max will appear in the first half of this year, the first of them between March and April… which means we will have them at the peak of summer,” said Michal Fijol, President of the airline.
However, not all are as optimistic about the delivery of their aircraft, and United Airlines, which operates 79 B737 Max 9s, has said it’s clear that the manufacturer’s challenges will impact orders it has for 277 Max 10s, reported The Washington Post.
“Boeing’s not going to be able to meet their contractual deliveries on at least many of those airplanes, and I’ll just leave it at that,” said Scott Kirby, the airline’s CEO.
Amidst criticism heaped upon Boeing, the head of Boeing’s 737 Max programme, Ed Clark, has been removed from his position and will be replaced by Katie Ringgold, VP of Boeing’s 737 delivery operations, reports travelmole.com. Clark, who was with Boeing for 18 years, has been at the helm of the Max programme since March 2021.
This might herald a new era within Boeing, but it will take time, Michel Merluzeau, an aeronautics specialist with aerospace advisory, AIR, told NDTV.com.
“They’ve lost a lot of people… The next level of leadership needs to mature.”
Meanwhile, Ethiopian Airlines has affirmed its faith in the manufacturer, despite the turmoil around production and delivery.
“We are [still] confident in Boeing,” Mesfin Tasew, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, told financialtimes.com. He revealed that the airline is currently waiting for three Boeing 737 Max 8s that were due to be delivered at the end of last year.
