Major airlines want to hear how Boeing plans to fix problems in the manufacturing of its planes

The heads of leading U.S. airlines want to meet with Boeing and hear the aircraft manufacturer’s strategy for fixing quality-control problems that have gained attention since a panel blew out of an Alaska Airlines jetliner in January, people familiar with the situation said Thursday. The meeting is likely to take place next week, according to a person who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe private discussions between Boeing and the airlines. Boeing CEO David Calhoun is not expected to meet with the airline officials, and that Boeing has offered to send its chairman, former Continental Airlines CEO Lawrence Kellner, and other board members. Boeing declined to comment. The company's CFO, Brian West, said at an investor conference Wednesday that the slowdown in aircraft production would cause Boeing to burn through $4b to $4.5b in cash flow during Q1, which ends March 31. “We put the customers in a tight spot ... the slowdown has impacted us, and it has impacted them," West said. He said airline customers "have been supportive of everything we are trying to do to enhance safety and quality for the industry.” United Airlines and American Airlines declined to comment on the airlines' request, and Alaska Airlines did not immediately respond to an inquiry. A Southwest spokesman declined to comment on specific meetings but said, “We have ongoing, frequent communication with Boeing, which is not new and will continue.” Airline CEOs have been outspoken in their frustration with Boeing’s manufacturing problems, which have slowed deliveries of planes that the carriers were counting on. <br/>