FAA halts Boeing 737 Max production expansion, but clears path to return Max 9 to service
The FAA on Wednesday halted Boeing’s planned expansion of its 737 Max aircraft production, but it cleared a path for the manufacturer’s Max 9 to return to service in the coming days, nearly three weeks after a door plug blew out during an Alaska Airlines flight. “Let me be clear: This won’t be back to business as usual for Boeing,” said FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker in a statement Wednesday. “We will not agree to any request from Boeing for an expansion in production or approve additional production lines for the 737 MAX until we are satisfied that the quality control issues uncovered during this process are resolved.” Boeing has been scrambling to ramp up output of its best-selling aircraft as airlines clamor for new jets in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. “We will continue to cooperate fully and transparently with the FAA and follow their direction as we take action to strengthen safety and quality at Boeing,” the company said in a statement. Boeing shares were down roughly 1% in after-hours trading after the FAA’s announcement. The FAA on Wednesday also said it approved inspection instructions for the Max 9 aircraft. Airlines had been awaiting that approval to review their fleets to return those planes to service.<br/>
https://portal.staralliance.com/cms/news/hot-topics/2024-01-25/general/faa-halts-boeing-737-max-production-expansion-but-clears-path-to-return-max-9-to-service
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FAA halts Boeing 737 Max production expansion, but clears path to return Max 9 to service
The FAA on Wednesday halted Boeing’s planned expansion of its 737 Max aircraft production, but it cleared a path for the manufacturer’s Max 9 to return to service in the coming days, nearly three weeks after a door plug blew out during an Alaska Airlines flight. “Let me be clear: This won’t be back to business as usual for Boeing,” said FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker in a statement Wednesday. “We will not agree to any request from Boeing for an expansion in production or approve additional production lines for the 737 MAX until we are satisfied that the quality control issues uncovered during this process are resolved.” Boeing has been scrambling to ramp up output of its best-selling aircraft as airlines clamor for new jets in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. “We will continue to cooperate fully and transparently with the FAA and follow their direction as we take action to strengthen safety and quality at Boeing,” the company said in a statement. Boeing shares were down roughly 1% in after-hours trading after the FAA’s announcement. The FAA on Wednesday also said it approved inspection instructions for the Max 9 aircraft. Airlines had been awaiting that approval to review their fleets to return those planes to service.<br/>
