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WASHINGTON, April 13 (Reuters) - Boeing (BA.N) has stopped deliveries of some 737 MAXs as it grapples with a new supplier quality problem by Spirit AeroSystems (SPR.N) that could stretch back to 2019, the company disclosed on Thursday. The issue will likely affect a "significant" number of undelivered 737 MAX airplanes both in production and in storage, and could result in lowered 737 MAX deliveries in the near term, the company acknowledged. The company, which announced deliveries of 111 MAXs over the first quarter, had aimed to increase monthly MAX production rates from 31 to 38 by June. The FAA has closely scrutinized Boeing aircraft since two fatal plane crashes in 2018 and 2019. The FAA continues to inspect each 737 MAX and 787 aircraft before an airworthiness certificate is issued and cleared for delivery.

☆ Boeing delivers 130 planes in Q1, beating Airbus by 3 jets
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Valerie Insinna | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, April 11 (Reuters) - Boeing (BA.N) on Tuesday announced 130 airplane deliveries over the first quarter of 2023, inching past rival Airbus (AIR.PA), which delivered 127 jets. The U.S. planemaker delivered 64 aircraft in March, 36% more than the 41 jets transferred to customers in the same month last year. The 737 MAX made up 52 of that sum, with United Airlines and Southwest Airlines each taking ownership of 12 MAX jets. Boeing is on track to meet its 737 MAX delivery target, having delivered 113 jets so far this year. But with only 11 787s delivered so far, the company will have to pick up the pace to meet that goal.

☆ Exclusive: Boeing targets 2025 for return to pre-crisis 737 MAX production rates -sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Valerie Insinna | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

After increasing monthly MAX production rates to 38 in June, Boeing's current plans call for 42 MAXs a month by January 2024 and 47 by June 2024, the sources, who asked not to be identified, told Reuters. Boeing, which has not provided details of its production plans, declined to comment. The U.S. planemaker further pared back MAX rates during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Boeing doesn't really have plans to get beyond 52 (MAXs), nor is it likely to do so. Meanwhile, Merluzeau said 737 MAX production appears to be stabilizing as Boeing's hiring bears fruit.

☆ Boeing resumes 767 freighter deliveries after three-month pause
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Valerie Insinna | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON April 5 (Reuters) - Boeing Co (BA.N) confirmed on Wednesday it had restarted deliveries of its widebody 767 after a three-month pause caused by supplier quality issues. The U.S. planemaker was forced to halt deliveries of the 767F freighter and KC-46 tanker earlier this year after it discovered center fuel tanks made by a supplier were not properly sealed. Boeing declined to comment on when 767 deliveries restarted, but flight data shows it handed over a 767F freighter to FedEx on March 24. The same day, Boeing’s defense unit tweeted that a KC-46 tanker had been delivered to the U.S. Air Force. Stan Deal, head of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, told reporters last week that the company would resume 767 freighter deliveries “shortly,” with KC-46 tanker deliveries following afterwards.

☆ Boeing will increase 737 MAX production rates 'very soon'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Valerie Insinna | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 30 (Reuters) - Boeing Co (BA.N) will increase 737 MAX production rates above the current rate of 31 jet per month "very soon," the head of Boeing's commercial airplanes business said on Thursday. The company is also making progress with the new 737 MAX 7 model, which is "completing the final submittals" for Federal Aviation Administration certification, Stan Deal told reporters. "We've got a handful - less than a handful - left to go to the FAA," he said. I want them to be perfect, I want the FAA to feel comfortable, and then give them the time to go review." The company plans to increase monthly MAX production to 50 planes per month by the end of 2026.

☆ Joby Aviation names former FAA administrator as director
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON March 24 (Reuters) - Joby Aviation (JOBY.N), which is developing electrical aircraft to operate as air taxis, on Friday named former Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) head Michael Huerta to its board of directors. Joby is pushing to win FAA certification for its vertical take-off and landing aircraft ahead of starting planned commercial passenger service in 2025. Huerta served as FAA administrator from 2013 to 2018 after three years as deputy administrator. Joby CEO JoeBen Bevirt said Huerta's seat on both boards "will be invaluable as we prepare for commercial operations." The FAA in November issued airworthiness criteria for Joby to certify its Model JAS4-1 aircraft.

☆ American Airlines to pause a route due to Boeing Dreamliner delays
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Kamil KrzaczynskiMarch 24 (Reuters) - American Airlines Group (AAL.O) said on Friday it would suspend its Philadelphia-Madrid route for a few weeks in May and early June due to a delay in deliveries of Boeing Co's (BA.N) 787 Dreamliners. Boeing delivered a 787 to American earlier this month and the airline is slated to get three more this year. "We continue to work with our customers, including American Airlines, on delivery timing and deeply regret the impact to their operations. American Airlines said it was making schedule adjustments to re-accommodate passengers on affected flights. "We remain committed to our customers and team members and mitigating the impact of the 787 delivery delays while continuing to offer a robust international network this summer," American Airlines said in a statement.

☆ Japan Airlines and Boeing reach deal for 21 737 MAX jets
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Issei KatoMarch 23 (Reuters) - Japan Airlines (9201.T) has placed its first-ever order for the Boeing 737 MAX, announcing a plan on Thursday to buy 21 jets to replenish its narrowbody fleet. The JAL order ensures a foothold for the MAX with Japan's flagship carrier as Boeing strives to undermine Airbus's lead in the narrowbody market. "One problem that has hobbled the (737 MAX) program is that despite good orders, there haven't been as many high profile users. ANA and Boeing concluded the MAX deal in July. The Boeing 737-800 currently makes up the largest portion of JAL's narrowbody fleet, with the carrier owning 47 jets and leasing another 17 737s, according to JAL.

☆ Pentagon probes lapse in Boeing security credentials for Air Force One
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

On March 14, Boeing discovered that "Yankee White" credentials for about 250 employees who work on the Air Force One planes had lapsed, the Air Force and Boeing confirmed. All of the workers involved have retained current top secret clearances, according to the Air Force and Boeing. However, the additional Yankee White clearance is required for individuals working on matters connected to the presidential aircraft. "When Boeing discovered this administrative issue, we quickly notified the Air Force, and, in coordination with the Air Force, we temporarily suspended access to the VC-25A and VC-25B areas for those Boeing employees who were affected," a Boeing spokesperson said. On March 19, "the vast majority of employees" with lapsed Yankee White credentials were approved to begin working in the secured areas where Air Force One planes are built and maintained, the Air Force said.

☆ Boeing to take charges on KC-46 tanker over quality issue -finance chief
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 22 (Reuters) - Boeing (BA.N) Co. will take additional charges to the KC-46 tanker program due to a supplier quality issue with the center fuel tank, the company's finance chief said Wednesday. Earlier this month, the company confirmed that deliveries of the Boeing 767 freighter and KC-46 tanker were delayed as a supplier had not completed processes related to cleaning and paint adhesion on the center fuel tanks. "But now we have to go implement the fix both on production airplanes and some airplanes that are in the fleet." Boeing has taken $6.8 billion in charges on the tanker program since it was awarded a $4.9 billion contract by the U.S. Air Force in 2011. Reporting by Valerie Insinna; Editing by Toby Chopra and Bernadette BaumOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Boeing wins Japan Airlines order for 21 MAX jets -sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON/TOKYO, March 22 (Reuters) - Boeing Co (BA.N) has secured a deal worth at least $2.5 billion at list prices to sell 21 of its 737 MAX jets to Japan Airlines Co (JAL) (9201.T), industry sources said. The deal will be announced on Thursday, they added, after talks to renew the narrow-body fleet emerged earlier this month. The deal is slated to be the first order for the 737 MAX placed by JAL, which predominantly owns Boeing aircraft and has operated the 737-800 as its main narrowbody plane. It follows an order from All Nippon Airways for 20 MAX jets that was finalized in July after a two year delay following the 737 MAX safety crisis. With Airbus single-aisle A320s in use by ANA's Peach unit and JAL's Jetstar Japan, Boeing strove to ensure that the MAX secured a foothold in the mainline fleet of Japan's national carrier.

WASHINGTON, March 16 (Reuters) - Boeing (BA.N) confirmed on Thursday it delivered a 787 Dreamliner to German airline Lufthansa (LHAG.DE), its first since deliveries were halted in late February after it disclosed a data issue with a component. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed last month that Boeing had paused deliveries due to the data analysis error related to the jet’s forward pressure bulkhead, which the company found after reviewing certification records. The FAA said Friday it was satisfied the issue has been resolved and approved Boeing to resume delivering 787s. Boeing is expected to deliver another 787 to American Airlines (AAL.O) shortly, sources said. Between the Saudi deal and separate orders from United Airlines and Air India, Boeing has received orders for almost 200 Dreamliners over the past four months.

On Tuesday, Boeing announced orders for 78 Dreamliners, split between state-owned Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) and new national airline Riyadh Air. The $37 billion sale, which Boeing called its fifth-largest commercial order by value, followed a deal with United Airlines (UAL.O) in December for 100 Dreamliners and a purchase by Air India that included 20 787s. Planemakers are also grappling with the after-effects of the pandemic, which forced waves of layoffs and retirements of skilled workers. While Airbus outsold Boeing in the Air India deal, landing orders for 40 A350 widebodys, the U.S. planemaker swept both the United Airlines and Saudi orders. “Saudi Airlines is a government-owned airline, and so there are politics involved with this,” analyst Stallard said.

[1/2] A logo of Airbus is seen at the entrance of its factory in Blagnac near Toulouse, France, July 2, 2020. But whereas this makes up some 12% of market forecasts for Boeing's 2023 deliveries, Airbus has secured just 9% of its 2023 target of 720 jets, below the trend for this time of year. After missed targets in 2022, Airbus Chief Executive Guillaume Faury has told executives that 2023 will be "make or break" for the company's industrial reputation, industry sources said. In February, Airbus delivered 46 jets, up from 20 in January, for a total of 66 in the first two months of 2023. Lessors have said both jetmakers are delivering planes three-to-six months late, though Airbus is pushing to maintain higher industrial output.

[1/2] The Boeing 787 Dreamliner airplane is seen in Long Beach, California March 14, 2012. REUTERS/Lucy NicholsonMarch 14 (Reuters) - Two Saudi Arabian airlines announced plans on Tuesday to order 78 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, a big win for Boeing (BA.N) that marks the fifth largest commercial order by value in its history. State-owned Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) and new national airline Riyadh Air will each buy 39 widebody 787s from the U.S.-based planemaker. The deal contains options for 10 additional Dreamliners for Saudia and 33 for Riyadh Air. Calhoun said the planemaker was standing by its 787 production guidance announced in November "and we're confident we can do it."

☆ Beta Technologies lands orders for fixed-wing electric aircraft
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Valerie Insinna | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, March 14 (Reuters) - Beta Technologies is pursuing Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification for a fixed-wing electric airplane after receiving orders from three customers, the company announced Tuesday. The privately-held, Vermont-based startup sees certification of the CX 300 – a conventional takeoff and landing version of its Alia 250 electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft - as a path to introduce an electric aircraft into U.S. airspace under existing regulations, Chief Executive Kyle Clark told Reuters. Bristow Group, a helicopter service provider that has previously ordered eVTOL aircraft from Beta, has placed an order for up to 50 CX 300 electric planes, Beta said. As the air transport industry works to lower carbon emissions, electric "air taxis" are seen as a potential gamechanger that would allow airlines and other companies to shuttle people and goods by air over short distances. If successful, Beta can reuse much of the data to certify its eVTOL Alia aircraft, which uses the same airframe, batteries and propulsion system, Clark said.

[1/2] A Boeing 787-8 puts on a display at the Farnborough Airshow, in Farnborough, Britain July 16, 2018. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls/File PhotoWASHINGTON, March 13 (Reuters) - Boeing Co (BA.N) is expected to sell nearly 80 787 Dreamliner airplanes to two Saudi Arabian airlines, a source briefed on the matter said on Monday. State-owned Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) and new national airline Riyadh Air will both be acquiring Boeing 787s, the source said. The airlines are expected to buy a total of 78 787s split between the two buyers and have options to buy another 43, the source said. The Saudi deal comes on the heels of a major December order from United Airlines (UAL.O) for 100 787 Dreamliners and 100 737 MAX jets.

WASHINGTON, March 10 (Reuters) - The Biden administration will modify, but continue with, an Air Force One paint scheme that closely resembles the current white with two shades of blue, which dates back to President John F. Kennedy's administration, the Air Force said on Friday. The contractual decision for a Air Force One paint job "was not required until this year," the Air Force said. Last summer, the Air Force said Boeing was set to deliver the next-generation Air Force One 747s in 2026 and 2027, the latest delay. The Air Force said Friday they are now projected to be delivered in 2027 and 2028. Back in 2018, Boeing received a $3.9 billion contract to build two 747-8 aircraft for use as Air Force One, to be delivered by December 2024.

March 10 (Reuters) - The Federal Aviation Administration on Friday approved Boeing to resume deliveries of its widebody 787 Dreamliner next week. The agency halted 787 deliveries on Feb. 23 due to a data analysis error related to the jet’s forward pressure bulkhead, which Boeing Co (BA.N) found after reviewing certification records. The FAA said Boeing had addressed those concerns. "The FAA may resume issuing airworthiness certificates next week," the agency said. "The FAA will determine when 787 ticketing and deliveries resume, and we are working with our customers on delivery timing," Boeing said.

It's about six months between when it's certified and we can put it into service," Jordan told reporters at an Aero Club event in Washington. Jordan said his "best guess" is it will be in service by Southwest in early 2024. Boeing said it continues to work with the FAA to meet the requirements for MAX 7 and MAX 10 certification. Boeing has unfilled orders of 388 737 MAXs for Southwest and 271 of those are for MAX 7s. Jordan added that, if MAX 7 entry into service is delayed, Boeing will deliver additional MAX 8s to Southwest this year in lieu of MAX 7s.

☆ Boeing 767 freighter, KC-46 tanker face delivery snags due to fuel tank problem
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Valerie Insinna | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, March 7 (Reuters) - A new supplier problem has stymied deliveries of Boeing's (BA.N) 767 freighter and KC-46 tanker, the company confirmed on Tuesday. On Monday, Leeham News reported a software problem had delayed some 737 MAX deliveries by up to a year. A Boeing spokesperson told Reuters the issue "does not affect the timing of Boeing airplane deliveries and has no impact to our delivery outlook." Boeing characterized the problem as a documentation issue that will not require rewriting software, and which mostly impacts aircraft that have already been delivered. Boeing has not changed its delivery target of 70 to 80 Dreamliners this year.

☆ Boeing denies CEO Calhoun $7 million bonus due to 777X delays
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Valerie Insinna | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Dave Calhoun, CEO of Boeing, speaks on stage during the delivery of the final 747 jet at their plant in Everett, Washington, U.S. January 31, 2023. REUTERS/David Ryder/File PhotoWASHINGTON, March 3 (Reuters) - Boeing (BA.N) Co. Chief Executive Dave Calhoun will not receive a $7 million bonus due to the company's failure to enter the 777X into service by the end of 2023, Boeing said Friday. Boeing offered the performance-based incentive to Calhoun when he replaced former CEO Dennis Muilenburg in January 2020 and required that Calhoun achieve seven milestones by the end of this year. Calhoun took home $7 million in pay last year, slightly less than his $7.4 million compensation in 2021, Boeing stated in the filing. The terms of the award also called for Calhoun to meet certain milestones on the Boeing-Embraer joint venture, which dissolved in 2020.

[1/3] A U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter lands on the deck of the USS Ronald Reagan, a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered super carrier, during a joint naval drill between South Korea and the U.S., in the West Sea, South Korea, October 29, 2015. REUTERS/Kim Hong-JiFeb 23 (Reuters) - Boeing Co (BA.N) said on Thursday it plans to stop production of the F/A-18 Super Hornet in late 2025 after delivering the last of the fighter jets, as the aerospace giant shifts focus to winning the race for the sixth-generation of combat aircraft. Trade publication Defense News in 2020 reported that at least one prototype was built and flown by the Air Force. It said production of the F/A-18 jet, which debuted in 1983, could be extended until 2027 if the Super Hornet is selected by the Indian Navy for its future fighter. Reporting by Nathan Gomes in Bengaluru and Valerie Insinna in Washington; Editing by Sherry Jacob-PhillipsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

WASHINGTON, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Boeing Co (BA.N) has temporarily halted deliveries of its 787 Dreamliner jets as the U.S. planemaker conducts additional analysis on a fuselage component, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said on Thursday. "The FAA is working with Boeing to determine any actions that might be required for recently delivered airplanes," the agency said. Boeing said in reviewing certification records it "discovered an analysis error by our supplier related to the 787 forward pressure bulkhead. We notified the FAA and have paused 787 deliveries while we complete the required analysis and documentation." Boeing had halted deliveries in 2021 after the FAA raised concerns about its proposed inspection method.

Calhoun was Boeing chairman and then became CEO in January 2020 after the board fired Dennis Muilenburg. In 2021, the board approved a long-term incentive award target of $16 million. In April 2021, Boeing extended its required retirement age of 65 to 70 to allow Calhoun to stay in the top job. The award to Calhoun comes just weeks after Boeing reported its first yearly positive cash flow since 2018. Boeing hopes to increase cash flow from $2.3 billion in 2022 to between $3 billion and $5 billion in 2023.

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