Boeing’s disastrous start to 2024 is spilling over to airlines and their passengers due to production delays at the U.S. planemaker; delays that are exacerbating the already existing shortage of medium-to-short-range aircraft that form the backbone of commercial air travel.
United Airlines Holdings, Southwest Airlines and Ryanair are among the companies scrambling to respond to reduced deliveries from Boeing as Boeing focuses on fixing quality gaps that emerged from the Jan. 5 crash on an Alaska Airlines flight .
An entire sector in difficulty
With the summer travel season looming, airlines say they are busy reducing schedules and looking for alternatives to the 737s they have already ordered, while also dealing with problems affecting Airbus’ “narrow aisle” planes. Boeing also appears uncertain regarding when the planes will be ready as an army of US inspectors combs its factories, meaning the company can’t make firm predictions regarding when things might return to normal.
«Everything they say is what you would expect: “We are working as hard as we can. We are sorry for the inconvenience. We are doing the best we can,’” said John Plueger, CEO of aircraft leasing company Air Lease. «As soon as we have certainties, we will inform you» Plueger reports once more.
Airbus, Boeing’s main competitor, has a virtually depleted order book until the end of this decade, so there is no alternative for airlines to turn to. Like Boeing, the European manufacturer has struggled to restore production to pre-pandemic levels. An engine wear problem has grounded hundreds of Airbus aircraft, further damaging aircraft availability at a time when airline demand is particularly high.
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2024-03-17 16:03:36
