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☆ After a string of safety issues, Boeing is about to release a plan to fix its quality problems
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-29 | by ( Gregory Wallace | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Washington CNN —Boeing is expected to release a plan this week to fix its endless string of safety issues that have been under federal investigation following a midflight fuselage blowout in January. Since then, the FAA and Boeing have met multiple times about the company’s progress and the plan’s scope. FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said last week he sees the plan as only the “beginning” of a process for Boeing. Boeing later agreed to financial penalties and a deferred prosecution agreement to settle a criminal charge of defrauding US regulators. Its marching orders for the plan include addressing the audit and expert panel findings and explaining how it will integrate safety and quality assurance policies into practice.

Persons: Mike Whitaker, “ It’s, ” Whitaker, Max, Dave Calhoun, David Ryder, Whitaker, AeroSystems, Brian West, “ We’re, we’ll Organizations: Washington CNN, Boeing, Aviation Administration, FAA, ABC, Air Force, Alaska Airlines, Transportation Safety, Department of Justice, CNN, Employees, “ Locations: Portland , Oregon, Wichita , Kansas, Renton , Washington

☆ Boeing may be prosecuted after breaking safety agreement that prevented criminal charges for 737 crashes, US DOJ says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Evan Perez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —The US Justice Department on Tuesday notified Boeing that it breached terms of its 2021 agreement in which the company avoided criminal charges for two fatal 737 Max crashes. The notification comes as the Justice Department conducts a new investigation into Boeing’s operations in the wake the door plug incident. The earlier deal had resolved a fraud investigation related to the company’s development of its 737 Max aircraft. Under its deferred prosecution agreement from January 2021, Boeing paid $2.5 billion in penalties and promised to improve its safety and compliance protocols. In March, the FAA identified more potential safety issues with the engines of the 737 Max and 787 Dreamliner.

Persons: Max, “, Reed O’Connor, Biden, Paul Cassell, ” Cassell, ” Organizations: CNN, US Justice Department, Boeing, Alaska Airlines, Department of Justice, Justice Department, Max, Lion, Justice, Air Force, Transportation Safety Board, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA Locations: United States, Fort Worth , Texas

☆ Emirates' chairman has a message for Boeing: 'Get your act together'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

With 245 passenger planes and five 778 freighters on order, Emirates is Boeing's largest customer in terms of wide-body jets. Emirates airlines Boeing 777-31H(ER) takes off from Los Angeles international Airport on January 13, 2021. Al Maktoum, who sits at the helm of the world's largest long-haul airline and helped launch it in 1985, echoed the sentiments of many other airline CEOs when it comes to expectations for Boeing. Asked if he had a message for the plane maker, Al Maktoum said: "I always say, you know, get your act together and just do it. The chairman did not indicate that Emirates would cancel the Boeing orders or move them to its French rival, Airbus .

Persons: We're, it's, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, CNBC's Dan Murphy, Bauer, Griffin, Al Maktoum Organizations: United Arab Emirates, Dubai's, Emirates, Arabian, Boeing, Los Angeles, Airport, Aaronp, CNBC, Airbus, Alaska Airlines Flight, National Transportation Safety Board, NTSB, Reuters Locations: DUBAI, United Arab, Dubai, Emirates, Los, Alaska, Portland , Oregon, U.S

☆ A Delta Boeing 767 made an emergency landing after its exit slide fell off midair
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Cameron Manley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A Delta flight from NYC to LA had to turn back after its emergency exit slide detached. AdvertisementA Boeing plane was forced to make an emergency landing on Friday after an emergency slide fell off the aircraft. The Delta spokesperson said the airline was "fully supporting retrieval efforts and will fully cooperate in investigations." In a second statement, Delta said that the incident set off an emergency alarm. AdvertisementDelta Airlines 767-332ER makes emergency return to John F. Kennedy International Airport after losing its right-hand side emergency slide.

Persons: —, Delta, John F, Flexport, Max Organizations: Boeing, Service, Delta Air Lines, New York's JFK, Delta, Kennedy, Airport, Breaking Aviation, JFK, Business, Federal Aviation Administration, Air Lines, Kennedy International, FAA, Alaska Airlines Locations: NYC, LA, JFK, New York's, New York, Portland , Oregon

☆ Boeing’s Starliner set for historic astronaut launch after delays for years
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Jackie Wattles | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —After years of delays and a dizzying array of setbacks during test flights, Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft is finally set to make its inaugural crewed launch. “This is history in the making,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said of the upcoming Starliner mission during a March 22 news conference. Missteps riddled a Starliner test flight the prior year, leaving NASA and Boeing officials scrambling to figure out what went wrong. SpaceX’s Crew Dragon has been flying routine trips ever since, carrying NASA astronauts and even paying customers and tourists. On May’s inaugural crewed flight, Boeing will instead use a “perfectly acceptable mitigation” that should prevent the valves from sticking, Nappi said in March.

Persons: CNN —, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, ”, Mark Nappi, “, we’ve, Ken Bowersox, SpaceX’s, Bill Nelson, “ We’re, Boeing’s Starliner, Bob Behnken, Doug Hurley, Steve Stich, we’re, ” Nappi, Stich, Nappi, — Williams, Wilmore, —, ” Wilmore, Williams Organizations: CNN, NASA, International, Boeing, SpaceX, International Space, Alaska Airlines Locations: Florida, —, Starliner’s

☆ Southwest Quits Four Airports in Cost-Cutting Drive
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( J. Edward Moreno | More About J. Edward Moreno | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Southwest Airlines is ceasing operations at four airports, and reducing flights from others, in an effort to cut costs after its growth plans were curtailed by fewer than expected plane deliveries from Boeing. The airline, which flies only Boeing 737 planes, said on Thursday that delays from the embattled aircraft manufacturer were behind its struggles. Southwest reported a loss of $231 million for the first quarter, worse than analysts expected, sending its share price down 10 percent in early trading. To cut costs because of its curtailed growth plans, Southwest said it would cease operations at four airports from early August: Bellingham International Airport in Washington State, Cozumel International Airport, George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, and Syracuse Hancock International Airport. It would also “significantly restructure” its flights from other airports, most notably by reducing flights at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Chicago O’Hare International Airport.

Persons: George Bush Organizations: Airlines, Boeing, Bellingham International Airport, Cozumel International Airport, George, George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Syracuse Hancock International, Hartsfield, Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Chicago O’Hare International, Max, Alaska Airlines Locations: Bellingham, Washington State, Cozumel, Houston

☆ Alaska Airlines was named America's favorite airline for the 2nd year in a row — months after a hole blew in the side of one of its planes
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The airline topped the American Customer Satisfaction Index, despite its infamous panel blowout in January. Overall, US air travel customers were happier than last year with their experiences. The airline comfortably topped the annual American Customer Satisfaction Index with a score of 82, a one-point improvement compared to 2023. Allegiant registered a four-point rise in overall customer satisfaction, making it one of the fastest climbers this year. By collating this information, the American Customer Satisfaction Index says it provides a "definitive measure of passenger satisfaction."

Persons: —, Allegiant, Max, Kyle Rinker, Jonathan W Organizations: Alaska Airlines, Service, American Airlines, Allegiant Air, Delta, United Airlines, Boeing, Portland International, Johnson, International Air Transport Association Locations: Alaska

☆ Boeing losses, problems continue to mount
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Boeing reported a core operating loss of $388 million, or $1.13 a share, from the $440 million it lost on that basis a year earlier. Plastic covers the exterior of the fuselage plug area of Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 where a door plug on the plane blew off on a January 5 flight. The incident has sparked new focus on problems with the safety and quality controls at Boeing. Boeing has had a string of losses and problems with its planes’ quality dating back at least five years. It also announced plans to increase production of the 737 Max throughout 2024 in order to return to sustained profitability.

Persons: “, ”, Dave Calhoun, Max Organizations: New, New York CNN, Boeing, Revenue, Alaska Airlines, Alaska Airlines Boeing, Max, NTSB, Getty, Alaska Air, United Airlines, National Transportation Safety Board, Federal Aviation Administration, Justice Department Locations: New York, Alaska, Tuesday’s

☆ Private equity finds its next bet: college admissions
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Now, private equity firms are swooping in to help while taking majority stakes in exchange. Last week, the company announced that it would partner with California-based private equity firm Nexus Capital Management and move its test into a for-profit company. A company owned by private equity can obfuscate what the company actually does to the public and potentially to regulators. Private equity firms “come into industries that are already suffering from a lack of funding,” said Creeks. They’ve had a lack of funding and support and so sometimes private equity is the only viable option.

Persons: New York CNN — It’s, Janet Godwin, “, ” Goodwin, ”, we’ve, Charlie Eaton, Goodwin, Critics, Constantine Yannelis, Rebecca Winthrop, They’ve, ” Powell, Jerome Powell, Powell, Bryan Mena, Chris Isidore, United, Max Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, ACT Inc, U.S ., ACT, Nexus Capital Management, ”, CNN, Nexus, Higher, University of California, ” Nonprofit, Nexus Capital, Savvas Learning Company, Private Equity, Project, University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Center for Universal Education, Brookings Institution, P Global Market Intelligence, College Board, Veritas Capital, “, Bank of Canada, Wilson, Fed, United, United Airlines, Boeing, Alaska Airlines, Federal Aviation Administration Locations: New York, Iowa, California, Merced, Canada

☆ Boeing faces scrutiny in Senate hearings over aircraft safety and quality
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Boeing 's safety and quality were under fire again in two Senate hearings on Wednesday as the manufacturer faces mounting scrutiny after a midair door blowout and near catastrophe on one of its planes in January. A Boeing engineer-turned-whistleblower testified before a Senate panel, reiterating his allegations that the planemaker cut corners to move wide-body planes through the production line, despite flaws. "I believe that Boeing can do better and that the public's trust in Boeing can be restored," he said in prepared remarks to the Senate Homeland Security committee ahead of the hearing "Examining Boeing's Broken Safety Culture: Firsthand Accounts." New plane deliveries from Boeing have slowed as the Federal Aviation Administration ramps up its scrutiny on the company's production lines. A separate hearing, before the Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday, addressed Boeing's safety culture after a report issued earlier this year from an expert panel ordered by Congress found a "disconnect" between Boeing's senior management and other members of the organization on safety culture.

Persons: Richard Blumenthal, Sam Salehpour, shim, Scott Kirby, CNBC's, Dave Calhoun Organizations: Boeing, Senate Homeland Security, Governmental, Investigations, Senate Homeland, United Airlines, Max, Alaska Airlines, Federal Aviation Administration, Senate, Congress Locations: Washington ,

☆ Boeing’s problems just cost United $200 million
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The company took a $200 million hit in the first quarter after the Boeing 737 Max 9 was grounded following the door plug incident aboard an Alaska Airlines flight. Boeing’s publicity woes and the grounding of the jets weren’t the only way that the airplane manufacturer hurt United. United now says it no longer expects the Boeing 737 Max 10, the latest and longest version of the Boeing 737, to be delivered this year. With questions about the quality and safety of Boeing jets, the certification has likely been pushed back to at least 2025. Of more concern to Boeing, United also said Tuesday that it has reached agreements with two lessors to lease 35 new Airbus A321neos, a 737 Max competitor.

Persons: Max, Scott Kirby, United Organizations: New, New York CNN — United Airlines, Boeing, Alaska Airlines, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, United, Airbus, Revenue Locations: New York, United

☆ United Airlines slashes 2024 aircraft delivery plan as Boeing crisis leads to delays
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

United Airlines on Tuesday cut its aircraft-delivery expectations for the year as it grapples with delays from Boeing , the latest airline to face growth challenges because of the plane-maker's safety crisis. "We've adjusted our fleet plan to better reflect the reality of what the manufacturers are able to deliver," CEO Scott Kirby said in an earnings release. In January, United said it was taking Boeing's not-yet-certified Max 10 out of its fleet plan. The airline said it has converted some Max 10 planes for Max 9s. United is also facing a Federal Aviation Administration safety review, which has prevented some of its planned growth.

Persons: Scott Kirby, United, Boeing's, Max, Max 9s Organizations: Airlines, Boeing, Airbus A321neos, Max, Federal Aviation Administration, CNBC, FAA, Alaska Airlines, United, Revenue Locations: U.S, Newark , New Jersey, Faro, Portugal, Tokyo, Cebu, Philippines, Southwest

☆ Boeing Defends Safety of 787 Dreamliner After Whistle-Blower’s Claims
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Mark Walker | Niraj Chokshi | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Boeing sought on Monday to reassure the public of the safety of its 787 Dreamliner plane days before a whistle-blower is scheduled to testify before Congress about his concerns regarding the jet’s structural integrity. The presentation came just under a week after The New York Times reported the allegations by the whistle-blower, Sam Salehpour, who works as a quality engineer at Boeing and is set to testify before a Senate panel on Wednesday. Mr. Salehpour said that sections of the fuselage of the Dreamliner, a wide-body plane that makes extensive use of composite materials, were not properly fastened together and that the plane could suffer structural failure over time as a result. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating his allegations. Mr. Salehpour’s claims instantly created another public-relations problem for Boeing, which has been facing intense scrutiny over its manufacturing practices after a panel came off a 737 Max during an Alaska Airlines flight in January.

Persons: Sam Salehpour, Salehpour, Salehpour’s Organizations: Boeing, New York Times, Federal Aviation Administration, Alaska Airlines Locations: North Charleston, S.C

☆ A Boeing supplier says it tried using Vaseline, cornstarch, and talcum powder to lubricate a door seal before settling on Dawn dish soap: NYT
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Besides the soap, FAA auditors say they saw Spirit mechanics use a hotel key card to check a door seal. In March, The Times reported that Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) auditors saw Spirit AeroSystems' mechanics applying soap to a door seal. AdvertisementAccording to Buccino, Spirit also tried using other household products such as Vaseline, cornstarch, and talcum powder as a lubricant before settling on liquid Dawn soap. Buccino said the Dawn soap became their top choice because it didn't cause the door seal to degrade over time. Representatives for Boeing, Spirit, and the FAA did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider sent outside regular business hours.

Persons: Spirit AeroSystems, —, Joe Buccino, Buccino, Spirit, Sean Black, Black, Dave Calhoun, Jennifer Homendy Organizations: Boeing, Spirit, FAA, Service, New York Times, The Times, Aviation, Times, Alaska Airlines, National Transportation Safety Board, NTSB, Business Insider

☆ Dish Soap to Help Build Planes? Boeing Signs Off on Supplier’s Method.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Mark Walker | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A recent Federal Aviation Administration audit of the production of the Boeing 737 Max raised a peculiar question. Was it really appropriate for one of the plane maker’s key suppliers to be using Dawn dish soap and a hotel key card as part of its manufacturing process? conducted the audit after a panel known as a door plug blew off a 737 Max 9 during an Alaska Airlines flight in January. The New York Times reported last month that the agency’s examination had identified dozens of problems at Boeing and the supplier, Spirit AeroSystems, which makes the fuselage of the 737 Max. But in the aftermath of the Alaska episode, Spirit says one thing has been misunderstood: its use of the dish soap and the hotel key card.

Persons: Max Organizations: Federal Aviation Administration, Boeing, Alaska Airlines, The New York Times Locations: Alaska, Renton, Wash

☆ An Alaska Airlines passenger has watched his lost AirTag fly between 37 cities for months after it fell out of his bag
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Éric Béteille said his AirTag has been stuck in the cargo space of an Alaska Airlines plane. In a Facebook post, Éric Béteille said his AirTag fell out of his luggage tag on an Alaska Airlines flight last July — and is now stuck in the plane's cargo space. One of Éric Béteille's Facebook posts. FacebookBéteille — whose LinkedIn profile says he is a principal content designer at Meta — has racked up over 20,000 likes across his two Facebook posts about the lost AirTag. AdvertisementBéteille's AirTag won't be going transatlantic, especially given that Alaska Airlines only flies to North America, but it's still an interesting insight into the carrier's operations — and the frequency of one jet's flights.

Persons: Éric Béteille, he's, —, Jackson, Béteille, Meta —, it's Organizations: Alaska Airlines, Embraer, Service, Facebook, Meta, American Airlines Locations: Canada, Austin, Vancouver, Missoula , Montana, , Wyoming, Tucson , Arizona, North America

☆ Delta posts strong earnings in tough quarter for US airlines
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —Delta Air Lines reported vastly improved earnings in the first quarter, and the company said results should remain strong the rest of the year. Delta predicted it would report record revenue in the second quarter, it said it expects thinner profit margins. So it now expects earnings per share of between $2.20 to $2.50, which would be down from the record adjusted earnings per share of $2.64 a year ago. Delta has no 737 Max jets in its fleet currently, although it has placed orders for some of the jets. In July 2022 it placed an order for 100 of the Boeing 737 Max 10 jets, the largest version of the Max.

Persons: Ed Bastian, Max, ”, Scott Kirby, Bastian didn’t, “ Organizations: New, New York CNN — Delta Air Lines, Wall, Delta, Boeing, United Airlines ’, Southwest, Airbus, Alaska Airlines, Max, Federal Aviation Administration, Alaska Air, United Airlines Locations: New York, Atlanta, Alaska

☆ Boeing orders bounce back on demand for a plane it can’t deliver yet
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

American placed orders for 85 of the Boeing 737 Max 10, the largest version of that troubled aircraft. It also converted previous orders for 30 of the shorter Max 8 version of the plane, which is currently flying, into additional Max 10 orders. That report showed no other orders for any version of the 737 Max. Besides American’s large Max order, Boeing also received orders for 28 of its widebody 777 jets during the month. Boeing also reported it delivered only 24 of the 737 Max jets in the month, and five 787 Dreamliners.

Persons: Max, Scott Kirby, Kirby Organizations: New, New York CNN, American Airlines, Federal Aviation Administration, Boeing, Alaska Airlines, FAA, Alaska Air, United Airlines, Airbus, United, Southwest Airlines Locations: New York, American, Alaska

☆ These plane crash survivors and victims’ loved ones are becoming scared to fly again after years of travel. They’re not alone
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-06 | by ( Elizabeth Wolfe | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Others, however, said they are still confident in flight safety, pointing out that commercial air travel remains one of the safest modes of transportation. Cara and Erin Ashcraft survived the crash of American Airlines Flight 1420, operated on a McDonnell Douglas MD-82, during a landing at Little Rock National Airport on June 1, 1999. “I’ve never had concerns (about air travel safety) before. This is the hole left behind when the plug door of an Alaska Airlines flight blew off midflight on January 5, 2024. Pierson is wary of attitudes around the apparent safety of American air travel, he said.

Persons: Barb Handley, –, ” Handley, Handley, ”, ‘, Mary Handley, Alice, Barb Handley Miller, Pat Gabrielse, Dan Handley, Beth Handley McMall, Kathleen Handley Salemi, Cara, Erin Ashcraft, “, I’m, ” Cara, ” Cara Ashcraft, ’, McDonnell Douglas, Andy Scott, “ I’m, ” Erin Ashcraft, ” ‘ I’ve, Trey Smith, “ I’ve, ” Smith, Smith, Scott Kirby, United, Boeing Aubrey, Max, Aubrey, they’re, ” Anthony Brickhouse, Florida’s Embry, Brickhouse, Ed Pierson, Pierson, That’s, ” CNN’s Chris Isidore, Jacopo Prisco Organizations: CNN, Alaska Airlines, United Airlines Boeing, Boeing, –, National Transportation, NTSB, Federal Aviation Administration, United Airlines, American Airlines, McDonnell, Little Rock National Airport, Dallas Morning News, International Air Transport, United, Reuters United, Airbus, “ Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, Florida’s, Riddle Aeronautical University, Alaska Airlines Max, US Federal Aviation Administration, National Transportation Safety Board, Foundation for Aviation Safety, Air Canada, San Francisco International Airport Locations: Alaska, Little Rock , Arkansas, United States, Virginia, Los Angeles, East, Southwest

☆ Alaska Airlines says Boeing paid it $160 million for 737 Max 9 grounding
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The fuselage plug area of Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 Boeing 737-9 MAX, which was forced to make an emergency landing with a gap in the fuselage, is seen during its investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in Portland, Oregon, U.S. January 7, 2024. Boeing paid Alaska Airlines $160 million in compensation in the first quarter for the grounding of the 737 Max 9, according to the airline. Alaska said in a filing Thursday that its first-quarter "results were significantly impacted by Flight 1282 in January and the Boeing 737-9 MAX grounding which extended into February." "Although we did experience some book away following the accident and 737-9 MAX grounding, February and March both finished above our original pre-grounding expectations due to these core improvements," it said. Alaska shares were up more than 5% in morning trading, while Boeing was up 1%, compared with a 0.6% gain in the broader market .

Persons: Boeing's, Boeing didn't Organizations: Alaska Airlines Flight, Boeing, National Transportation Safety Board, Alaska Airlines, Federal Aviation Administration, Max, United Airlines, CNBC Locations: Alaska, Portland , Oregon, U.S

☆ Blinken grounded by problems with his Boeing jet
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Chris Isidore | Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Washington, DC CNN —US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is the latest person dealing with problems with a Boeing jet. This is the second time this year that Blinken has had an issue with a Boeing plane while traveling. The incident has sparked numerous investigations into the Boeing’s practices and public attention to a large number of other problems on subsequent flights with Boeing jets. Many of those came on older planes and issues, which typically would have not been reported, were likely not caused by anything Boeing did. But the subsequent incidents, which typically would have not been reported by the media, have focused more attention on questions about the quality and safety of Boeing jets.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Blinken, plane, Max Organizations: DC CNN, Boeing, State Department, Brussels, Air Force, Alaska Airlines, National Transportation Safety Locations: Washington, Europe, Ukraine, Gaza, Paris, Switzerland

☆ United asks pilots to take unpaid time off, citing Boeing's delayed aircraft
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

United Airlines is asking pilots to take unpaid time off next month, citing late-arriving aircraft from Boeing , according to a note sent to pilots. It's another example of how Boeing's customers say the manufacturer's production problems and safety crisis are impacting their growth plans. The offer comes after United and other airlines in recent years have clamored for more pilots when the Covid-19 pandemic travel slump ended and demand surged. "Due to recent changes to our Boeing deliveries, the remaining 2024 forecast block hours for United have been significantly reduced," the United chapter of the Air Line Pilots Association, the pilots' union, said in a note to members Friday. United was contracted to receive 43 Boeing 737 Max 8 planes and 34 Max 9 models this year, but now expects to receive 37 and 19, respectively, according to a company filing in February.

Persons: Max, Scott Kirby, Boeing didn't, Dave Calhoun Organizations: Boeing, Air Line Pilots Association, United, CNBC, Max, Federal Aviation Administration, Alaska Airlines

☆ You Don’t Have to Freak Out About Boeing Planes - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-31 | by ( Zeynep Tufekci | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

“Ah, it’s a Boeing Max,” I exclaimed to my travel companions after we boarded our plane a few weeks ago. I looked to see if we were seated next to a hidden door plug panel like the one that blew out on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 in January. But the bad news wasn’t over: On Thursday, a New York Times investigation reported a disturbing pattern of sloppy safety procedures and dangerous cost-cutting. One expert who had spent more than a decade at Boeing told The Times, “The theme is shortcuts everywhere — not doing the job right.”Is it any wonder that some travelers are trying to avoid Boeing planes? The biggest danger of all may be understaffed air traffic controllers and overstuffed runways, which lead to far too many near misses.

Persons: ”, hasn’t Organizations: Boeing Max, Alaska Airlines, Federal Aviation Administration, Boeing, Senate, New York Times, Times, United Airlines

☆ Dog reunited with owner days after ‘misstep in the cargo loading process,’ airline says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( Rebekah Riess | Michelle Watson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Moose, a dog that was supposed to be on an outgoing Alaska Airlines flight Tuesday from Raleigh-Durham International Airport, has been reunited with its owner after a “misstep in the cargo loading process,” the airline said. “The dog was scheduled to fly on our flight Tuesday night with its owner, but due to a misstep in the cargo loading process, the dog did not make the trip. “He is safe and sound and had a good breakfast courtesy of one of our K9 officers,” the airport spokesperson said. Alaska Airlines apologized for the mishap and said it’s happy the dog and owner have been reunited. “We’re happy that the dog is safely back with its pet parent,” an Alaska Airlines spokesperson said.

Persons: Moose, it’s, “, ” Organizations: CNN, Alaska Airlines, Durham International Airport, Raleigh Locations: Raleigh, Seattle

☆ 4 Takeaways About Boeing’s Quality Problems
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Niraj Chokshi | Sydney Ember | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Boeing has faced intense scrutiny and pressure since a panel blew off a 737 Max 9 shortly after the plane, an Alaska Airlines flight, took off on Jan. 5. The episode raised fresh questions about the quality of the planes the company produces several years after two Max 8 planes crashed, killing nearly 350 people. Interviews with more than two dozen current and former employees reveal longstanding concerns about quality, particularly as pressure increased to keep production going in the company’s factories. Now, Boeing faces an immense challenge as it seeks to make changes that improve the quality of its products and regain its credibility with lawmakers, regulators, airlines and the public. Current and former Boeing employees said that for years it felt as if quality took a back seat to keeping planes moving through its factories.

Persons: Max Organizations: Boeing, Alaska Airlines

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