Some airlines will have to be more patient. If Boeing has announced that it will resume deliveries of its popular 737 Max-8 after another quality problem, the aircraft manufacturer warns that it is revising downwards its delivery targets for this year.
To face the strong demand for its device, the American giant hoped to increase its production in 2023 and deliver between 400 and 450 copies of this device; Now it has between 375 and 400 units.
In September alone, its deliveries fell to 15 copies and are expected to remain at this level in October, the lowest level since August 2021.
x-ray inspections
Recall that in August, Boeing identified a new quality problem on its 737 MAX, involving supplier Spirit, which resulted in poorly drilled holes in the rear pressure bulkhead, made with an automated drill.
165 airplanes on Boeing’s production line had to undergo X-ray inspections, inspections that took time because the holes drilled by hand also had to be checked.
After numerous supply and logistics problems, the company had increased its production rate monthly to almost 38 devices (up from 31 previously), with the continued intention to increase this to 50 per month by 2025-2026.
In April, quality problems related to this same supplier in the fuselage of several aircraft models, including the 737 MAX, had already disrupted deliveries.
Several companies have recently placed good orders with Boeing for its Max 8. First of all, there is this historic order for 50 aircraft by Vietnam Airlines. The announced amount amounts to “several billion dollars,” 7.8 billion precisely according to the Biden administration.
In addition, twenty-five 737 MAX 8 were acquired by aircraft lessor SMBC Aviation Capital, one of the giants in the sector that has 900 aircraft in its fleet. To date, Boeing has received more than 400 orders for its 737 MAX family of aircraft through 2023.
Source: BFM TV
