United Exec Says COVID-19 Pandemic May Have Contributed to Boeing's Problems

Aviation expert Peter Lemme discusses reports an Alaska Airlines plane was missing some bolts when it left a Boeing factory on ‘The Evening Edit.’

A top United Airlines executive suggested the loss of experienced personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic is to blame for Boeing’s recent string of problems.

United Airlines’ executive vice president of finance, Gerry Laderman, made this statement at the Airline Economics convention in Dublin, Reuters reported.

“Experience matters and they want a good, experienced team to right the ship,” Laderman said.

“Part of the problem for a lot of business corporations is that no one knew about the difficulties we were all going to face coming out of COVID,” he continued.

ALASKA AIRLINES PLANE MAY HAVE LEFT BOEING FACTORY WITHOUT BOLTS TO FIX DOOR COVER: REPORT

A United Airlines Boeing 737 MAX nine takes off from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), as seen from El Segundo, Calif. , on Sept. 11, 2023. (PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP Getty Images/Getty Images)

“Mainly the chain of origin, but also the lack of senior executives and many retirements – the knowledge base. It affects everybody, and I think that’s part of what happened at Boeing and. . . it’s going to take time. “

Laderman said he would comment on whether adjustments to the planemaker’s leadership were desirable, according to Reuters.

Boeing has faced setbacks since a door plug on a 737 MAX 9 jet operated by Alaska Airlines exploded in mid-air earlier this month, prompting the Federal Aviation Administration to ground all 737 MAX nine jets pending a safety investigation.

The obvious cause of the crash may simply be a lack of bolts meant to hold the door lid in position when the plane left the Boeing factory, the Wall Street Journal reported.

BOEING PRESIDENT ON DISPLAY AS ALASKA AIRLINES RESUMES 737 MAX 9 SERVICE

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 in Portland, Oregon, on Jan (NTSB/Handout via Reuters / Reuters Photos)

Since the incident, lawmakers have insisted that Boeing withdraw a request for a key protection exemption that could have allowed regulators to fast-track certification of its upcoming 737 MAX 7 jet. Boeing said it would do so on Monday.

This week’s convention on airline economics is being closely watched as the most sensible airline executives (many of whom are Boeing consumers) react to Boeing’s problems.

Delegates at the convention said Boeing’s resolution raised questions about the timing of the launch of the larger and best-selling MAX 10, which was expected to qualify a year after the MAX 7.

EX-AMERICAN AIRLINES CHIEF SAYS BOEING FACES ‘TOUGH CHORE’ TO REGAIN REPUTATION

A United Airlines A321neo aircraft in flight. CEO Scott Kirby reportedly visited rival Airbus to discuss buying new A321neos amid a controversy with Boeing. (Boeing/Fox News)

United, one of the major operators of the MAX 9, has ordered 277 larger MAX 10 jets, for which Boeing is expected to apply for an exemption.

Chief Executive Officer Scott Kirby reportedly visited rival Airbus to discuss the purchase of new A321neos amid a controversy with Boeing, Reuters reported.

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

Laderman, who is retiring after leaving his position as chief financial officer, told Reuters he no longer follows Kirby’s travels. He noted that Airbus has also had delivery problems, with the A321neo on the top list because there is still little available.

“Yes, there is a challenge with Boeing, but you have to keep in mind that, for many other reasons, Airbus also has challenges, basically similar to, say, the supply chain. “

FOX Business’ Stephen Sorace and Reuters contributed to this report.

United Exec Says COVID-19 Pandemic May Have Contributed to Boeing’s Problems

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply