In what is either stating the obvious or a giant understatement, Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun said that serious challenges are ahead for the airplane manufacturer.
His comments came during a phone call with investors earlier this week and came about one month after Boeing had a door panel come off midflight on one of its Alaska Airlines jets.
The January 5 incident has caused intense scrutiny for Boeing from the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Transportation Safety Board, and the general public. Calhoun and Boeing have admitted their culpability, but he intends to show he has a firm grasp on the gravity of the situation.
"We caused the problem, and we understand that," he said. "We simply must do better."
The plane in question, a 737 Max 9, has prompted new safety concerns from the FAA, which grounded the plane for three weeks. The FAA also barred further production of the Max family of planes.
Calhoun said he and Boeing are fully complying with the government agencies.
"I know these moments that can impact delivery schedules can frustrate our customers and investors but quality and safety must come before all else," he said. "We are going to go slow to go fast and we will encourage and reward employees for speaking up to slow things down if that's what is needed."
Calhoun said he was not prepared to offer financial guidance for 2024.
"While we often use this time of year to share or update our financial and operational objectives, now is not the time for that," Calhoun said.
The state of Rhode Island treasurer on Tuesday filed a proposed class-action lawsuit on behalf of shareholders, accusing the company of continuing to prioritize "profits over safety."
Boeing declined comment.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
