United Airline Request Boeing Stop Making Max10 Says Report
On Tuesday, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby revealed that the carrier has asked Boeing to halt production of the 737 Max 10s they had ordered, and instead focus on building Max 9s.
This decision comes after an extended delay in the certification process for the Max 10 model, and United’s concern that Boeing will not be able to meet their contractual obligations for the aircraft.
At the JPMorgan investor conference, Kirby stated that it is “impossible to say” when the Max 10 will be certified, leading United to make the decision to switch to Max 9s and potentially consider purchasing Airbus A321s if the economics are favorable. It was reported earlier that United is in the market for A321s, but a deal has not yet been reached.
This news further adds to the scrutiny that Boeing has faced since the Jan. 5 incident in which a door plug blew off a 737 Max 9 in-flight, raising concerns about the already delayed Max 10 model. The Max 10 was initially expected to be certified by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) by early 2021, but that timeline has now been pushed back indefinitely.
Boeing has faced criticism in recent years after two 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019 resulted in the grounding of the aircraft worldwide. The crashes, which were both attributed to a faulty automated flight control system, resulted in the loss of 346 lives and raised questions about the FAA’s certification process for new aircraft.
In light of the ongoing issues with the 737 Max, Boeing announced internally on Tuesday that they will be implementing additional measures to ensure compliance and reduce quality problems. These measures include weekly compliance checks for every 737 work area and increased audits of equipment.
The fallout from the 737 Max crisis has taken a toll on Boeing, with the company reporting its first annual loss in over two decades in 2020. In addition to the financial impact, the grounding of the 737 Max has also caused disruptions for airlines, including United, who had to cancel flights and adjust their schedules due to the absence of their Max aircraft.
Despite these challenges, Kirby remains hopeful for the future of the 737 Max, stating that United will “wind up with more Max 9s” if a deal for A321s cannot be reached. He also expressed confidence in their long-standing partnership with Boeing and their ability to work through these challenges together.
In response to United’s decision to switch to Max 9s, a spokesperson for Boeing stated that they continue to work closely with their customers to support their fleet needs and remain committed to delivering safe and reliable aircraft. The company also stated that it will continue to work with the FAA and global regulators toward the safe return of the 737 Max to service worldwide.