Amid manufacturing problems that grounded more than 140 Boeing 737 Max planes, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said that Boeing needs “real action” to restore its previous reputation for quality.
In response, Boeing said that on January 25, workers at its 737 factory will stop working to participate in a special session focused on quality.
On January 5, a panel called a door plug blew off an Alaska Boeing 737 Max 9 jetliner 16,000 feet (4,900 meters) over Oregon, causing a hole on the side of the plane.
After the incident, U.S. regulators grounded most Max 9s and investigators began looking at whether bolts that helped hold the panel in place were missing or had broken off.
This week, United said it expects to lose money in the first three months of 2024 because of the subsequent grounding of its 79 Max 9s.
In an interview with CNBC, Kirby said Max 9s could be cleared to fly again soon, “but I am disappointed that the manufacturing challenges do keep happening at Boeing.”
Due to manufacturing issues, deliveries of Max jets, and a larger Boeing plane, the 787 has been recently delayed. In 2023, United received 24 fewer Boeing aircraft than planned.
United has a standing order for Max 10 jets, a larger version of the Max line. However, the grounding of the Max 9s could further complicate Boeing’s efforts to deliver orders.
Kirby stressed that the Max 10 is at least five years behind schedule and could be pushed further into the future.
“I think this is the straw; the Max 9 grounding is probably the straw that broke the camel’s back for us. We are going to at least build a plan that does not have the Max 10 in it,” he said.
Stan Deal, CEO of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division, apologized for the Max 9 grounding, adding the company is making changes.
In a statement, Deal said, “We have let down our airline customers and are deeply sorry for the significant disruption to them, their employees, and their passengers.”
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