Seattle, Washington – Boeing, one of the dominant players in the large jetliner market along with Airbus, continues to receive orders for new jets from customers. In the past month, the company secured 111 orders for new planes, excluding two cancellations. American Airlines alone accounted for 85 of these orders, specifically for 737 Max aircraft, as announced by the carrier in early March.
In light of the recent incident on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 on January 5, where a missing door plug led to a near catastrophic event, Boeing has been under increased scrutiny. The Federal Aviation Administration has conducted inspections on Boeing’s 737 Max production line and halted any increase in output until quality control procedures are approved.
Boeing executives have emphasized the importance of prioritizing quality over speed in their production process. Boeing CFO Brian West stated at a recent conference that the company is intentionally slowing down production to ensure that the necessary steps are taken to improve quality control and reduce errors that may result from rushed work.
The delays in aircraft deliveries have drawn criticism from CEOs of major airline customers of Boeing, prompting significant changes at the top level of the company. CEO Dave Calhoun announced his decision to step down by the end of the year, accompanied by replacements in key leadership positions within the company.
Alaska Airlines recently revealed that it received $160 million in compensation from Boeing in the first quarter due to a temporary grounding of the 737 Max 9 aircraft following the aforementioned incident. Boeing is set to announce its first-quarter results and provide updates for investors on April 24, shedding light on the impact of recent events on the company’s financial performance and future outlook.