United Airlines CEO says the airline will consider alternatives to Boeing's next airplane
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 (UAL) CEO says he is “disappointed” in ongoing manufacturing problems at Boeing (BA) 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.
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.
Kirby said on CNBC that he believes that the Max 9s could be cleared to fly again soon, “but I'm disappointed that the manufacturing challenges do keep happening at Boeing.”