Boeing faces more questions about its aircraft after fresh incident
A dangerous mid-air breach in the fuselage of a 737 Max is just the latest production lapse at Boeing, raising questions about whether the manufacturer can deliver a quality product as it strives to build planes at a faster rate. The incident, though it resulted in no serious injuries, was alarming enough for US aviation regulators to ground about 171 jets, pending inspection. Boeing said it supported the decision and that safety remained its “top priority”. Executives of the plane maker were in close contact with affected airlines over the weekend. The company will be keen to reassure customers and investors that the problem is contained. Boeing’s shares have risen more than 18% over the past 12 months and closed on Friday just shy of $250. While the plane maker is in better shape than it was four years ago when Dave Calhoun took the helm as chief executive, its recent history has been littered with production problems. Last month, Boeing asked airlines to check for loose bolts on the system controlling the Max’s rudder, while misdrilled holes and improper fittings were found on some jets earlier in 2023. Boeing was dogged by supply chain shortages in 2022, and beginning in 2020 a series of issues on the 787 led to 20 months of delivery delays. It has even stumbled on its flagship programme to build the US president’s new Air Force One. Problems that seem insignificant separately appear more troubling in the aggregate, analysts say — particularly in the shadow of the devastating design flaw that triggered two deadly plane crashes and led to a worldwide grounding of the 737 Max in 2019. Although the investigation into the Alaska Airlines’ incident has only just begun, long-term industry watchers say it has raised more questions about the quality of Boeing’s manufacturing. “This sort of failure should not happen on any aeroplane but for it to happen on a three month-old aircraft is unacceptable,” said Nick Cunningham, analyst at Agency Partners. “This adds to the impression that Boeing has forgotten how to build aircraft,” Cunningham added.<br/>
https://portal.staralliance.com/cms/news/hot-topics/2024-01-08/oneworld/boeing-faces-more-questions-about-its-aircraft-after-fresh-incident
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Boeing faces more questions about its aircraft after fresh incident
A dangerous mid-air breach in the fuselage of a 737 Max is just the latest production lapse at Boeing, raising questions about whether the manufacturer can deliver a quality product as it strives to build planes at a faster rate. The incident, though it resulted in no serious injuries, was alarming enough for US aviation regulators to ground about 171 jets, pending inspection. Boeing said it supported the decision and that safety remained its “top priority”. Executives of the plane maker were in close contact with affected airlines over the weekend. The company will be keen to reassure customers and investors that the problem is contained. Boeing’s shares have risen more than 18% over the past 12 months and closed on Friday just shy of $250. While the plane maker is in better shape than it was four years ago when Dave Calhoun took the helm as chief executive, its recent history has been littered with production problems. Last month, Boeing asked airlines to check for loose bolts on the system controlling the Max’s rudder, while misdrilled holes and improper fittings were found on some jets earlier in 2023. Boeing was dogged by supply chain shortages in 2022, and beginning in 2020 a series of issues on the 787 led to 20 months of delivery delays. It has even stumbled on its flagship programme to build the US president’s new Air Force One. Problems that seem insignificant separately appear more troubling in the aggregate, analysts say — particularly in the shadow of the devastating design flaw that triggered two deadly plane crashes and led to a worldwide grounding of the 737 Max in 2019. Although the investigation into the Alaska Airlines’ incident has only just begun, long-term industry watchers say it has raised more questions about the quality of Boeing’s manufacturing. “This sort of failure should not happen on any aeroplane but for it to happen on a three month-old aircraft is unacceptable,” said Nick Cunningham, analyst at Agency Partners. “This adds to the impression that Boeing has forgotten how to build aircraft,” Cunningham added.<br/>
