The CEO of United Airlines is frustrated about ongoing manufacturing problems at Boeing, and his airline will consider alternatives to buying a future, larger version of the Boeing 737 Max.

The United Airlines CEO says he is “disappointed” in ongoing manufacturing problems at Boeing that have led to the grounding of dozens of United jetliners, and the airline will consider alternatives to buying a future, larger version of the Boeing 737 Max.

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said Tuesday that Boeing needs “real action” to restore its previous reputation for quality.

Kirby’s comments came one day after United disclosed that it expects to lose money in the first three months of this year because of the grounding of its Boeing 737 Max 9 jets.

United has 79 of those planes, which federal regulators grounded more than two weeks ago after a panel blew out of an Alaska Airlines Max 9 in midflight, leaving a gaping hole in the plane. Investigators are probing whether bolts that help hold the panel in place were missing or broke off.

      • You999
        201·
        10 months ago

        Embraer’s largest plane the 195-E2 fits 146 in an all economy configuration. Boeing’s smallest plane the 737 max 7 has an all economy configuration capacity of 172. Embraer just doesnt make a plane in the same class as Boeing or airbus.

    • stevehobbes@lemy.lol
      316·
      10 months ago

      Believe it or not, this consolidation is almost certainly because of (good) regulation not capitalism.

      The costs of building a new air frame are gigantic - the regulatory aspect in all countries is also gigantic. The barriers to entry are gargantuan - and the scale you need to be profitable is extreme.

      But those regulations save lives. But they also keep competitors out.

    • Rapidcreek@lemmy.world
      1·
      10 months ago

      Airlines live off of equipment depreciation. They are taxed less on their airframes age. Considering that, US taxpayers make up for that shortfall I would rather that US carriers buy US made airframes built by US workers. So, Boeing would be my pick.

    • pandapooEnglish
      26·
      10 months ago

      Wait… You don’t actually think the executives are actually going to switch from resource extraction mode to an invest in company strategy, right?