Summary

  • – United Airlines CEO Kirby says Boeing’s issues are structural
  • – Kirby emphasizes need for structural changes in Boeing to regain greatness
  • – United Airlines receiving Boeing 737 MAX 9s instead of MAX 10s

During a media huddle with United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby at the IATA AGM in Dubai, Kirby stated that Boeing’s issues are structural and that United is receiving Boeing 737 MAX 9s instead of MAX 10s. This is part of the ongoing saga surrounding Boeing’s troubled 737 MAX family. Major incidents have included two crashes, and an Alaskan Airlines door plug blowing off midflight. The Department of Justice is still consisting reopening a fraud prosecution against Boeing.

United Airlines says Boeing’s problems are structural

One reporter asked Scot Kirby, “Can I ask you about these issues at Boeing? How do you assess the transparency of management? Are you seeing changes in the way they’re discussing them with you?” Kirby stated he couldn’t find anyone who was transparent at Boeing.

Boeing 737 MAX 7 flying shutterstock_1594641253

Photo: Wirestock Creators | Shutterstock

Later in the conversation, Kirby stated, “The biggest thing for them (Boeing) to do is make the structural changes to get Boeing back to the level of greatness…” He said United Airlines wanted to work with Boeing to “get it back to where it was.

When asked who he wanted to lead Boeing, he responded that he wanted “someone who is going to restore the focus on quality, engineering, technology that’s not worried about short-term financials. I believe if they do that, the short term financials will take care of themselves.” He said the leader should be committed to the principles of quality engineering and be someone who knows what’s happening on the factory floor.

United is among the world’s largest and oldest airlines, and it has a long and deep history with Boeing. In the 1920s, Boeing and Pratt & Whitney merged and bought out Varney Air Lines (the airline United traces its roots to) to form United Aircraft and Transport Corporation. However, a series of scandals saw Congress break the company up so that no company would control aircraft manufacturing and passenger services. United Airlines was formed from the break up of United Aircraft and Transport Corporation.

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United Airlines receiving 737 MAX 9s

Scott Kirby was asked if he expects the Boeing 737 MAX 10 to face more delays. He responded by saying, “I don’t know when it will come,” and then said United Airlines is going to tell Boeing to stop making Max 10s for them. He expressed confidence that when the issues are worked through, and it is certified, it will be a “really good airliner.”

Boeing 737 MAX 7 at Renton shutterstock_1854534436

Photo: BlueBarronPhoto | Shutterstock

Kirby stated, “Basically every airplane Boeing should be making for us should be a MAX 10 now.” But United is taking delivery of six MAX 9s every month instead.

The FAA has recently stated that Boeing is not clear to increase the production of the 737 MAX and will continue to restrict its production until quality improvements have been implemented.

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