by Donald Wood
Last updated: 12:50 PM ET, Tue March 12, 2024
Airlines in the United States are warning that delayed
deliveries of Boeing
aircraft could result in plans to increase capacity being missed or scrapped
altogether.
According to Reuters.com,
carriers across the U.S. are concerned they will not be able to meet the rising
travel demand after Boeing cut expectations for deliveries this year following
heavy scrutiny associated with a string of quality-control-related issues.
Boeing
has been under the microscope of the U.S. government and its associated aviation
agencies since a January 5 incident that saw an Alaska Airlines plane lose a
door plug during a flight, leaving a massive hole in the side of the fuselage.
Southwest Airlines announced last week that it expects to
take 42 percent fewer MAX deliveries this year, which could cut the carrier’s
2024 capacity. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby also said that, “Boeing
deliveries are going to be way behind this year.”
In response, Boeing told Southwest it would deliver 46 MAX 8
planes to the airline this year, which is down from the 79 jets originally
promised. The order does not include the MAX 7 aircraft currently mired
in certification delays.
While United and other carriers have started working with
Airbus to fill the potential delivery void, backlogs at the European
manufacturer make it difficult for U.S. carriers to shift orders.
Despite the issues at Boeing, airline executives and aviation
officials have expressed
support for the company during its recent struggles, which is facing
intense scrutiny from both regulatory and legislative teams.
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