American aerospace giant Boeing is facing turbulence. A series of incidents and tightened regulatory scrutiny have led to a sharp drop in production in the first quarter of 2024. Boeing delivered only 66 737 Max aircraft, down 40% from the same period last year. Overall aircraft deliveries fell 28% to 83 units.
Quality Control Issues
Boeing has been facing a series of incidents that have called its quality control into question. In January, a panel fell off the fuselage of an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9, leading to an emergency landing. In the same month, a Boeing 747 engine caught fire after takeoff from Florida, and in March, a 777 had to make an emergency landing after losing a wheel.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the US has ordered Boeing to submit a plan within 90 days to address quality control issues. The company is currently not allowed to increase production of the 737 Max and production of the 777 has been halted.
Impact on the Aviation Industry
Boeing’s production cuts are having an impact on the entire aviation industry. Airlines are waiting for deliveries of aircraft and are forced to cancel flights. Boeing is trying to expedite the resolution of the issues and expects production to stabilize in the course of 2024.
Sources:
- TASR: https://www.tasr.sk/
- Boeing: https://www.boeing.com/
- FAA: https://www.faa.gov/
