Boeing is dealing with delays in the production and delivery of its Boeing 787 widebodies because of key parts shortages from suppliers. The company’s vice president and general manager of the 787 program, Scott Stocker, informed staff that the pace of production and deliveries will be slower due to these issues.
Stocker mentioned that the shortages affect several key parts, causing Boeing to adjust its production rate and delivery schedule. The changes come as Boeing navigates ongoing production challenges, including those arising from a 737 MAX 9 incident in January 2024, when a door plug blew out on an Alaska Airlines flight. This incident led to the grounding of 171 Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft for safety inspections.
Boeing’s commercial aircraft division delivered 13 Boeing 787s in the first quarter of 2024, up from 11 in the same period in 2023. However, 737 MAX deliveries fell to 67, down from 113 in the first quarter last year. The company also delivered three 767s. This lower delivery rate contributed to Boeing’s revenue of USD16.6 billion, with an operating cash flow of USD3.4 billion and free cash flow of USD3.9 billion for the first quarter.
Boeing’s President and CEO Dave Calhoun stated that these results reflect the company’s efforts to address quality issues by slowing down 737 production. He emphasized the importance of taking time to improve quality and safety management systems for a more stable future.
Boeing’s Response to Production Challenges
To address these issues, Boeing has slowed down its 737 production to implement quality management system improvements. The company is also tackling feedback from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) audit of the 737 production process.
Amid these challenges, Boeing received 125 net orders in the first quarter, including 85 for 737 MAX 10s from American Airlines and 28 for 777X from customers like Ethiopian Airlines. The company delivered a total of 83 aircraft during the quarter and has a backlog of more than 5,600 aircraft, valued at USD448 billion.
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