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BOEING-737 MAX DAE FILE PHOTO: A Boeing 737 Max aircraft during a display at the Farnborough International Airshow, in Farnborough, Britain, July 20, 2022. REUTERS/Peter Cziborra/File Photo Image: PETER CZIBORRA
Dublin — Boeing is “undoubtedly” making progress in getting on top of quality issues, the head of Avolon, the world’s second largest aircraft leasing firm and a major Boeing customer, says.
Boeing was hit by the latest in a series of problems on January 5 when a door panel flew off one of its 737 MAX 9 jets in the midst of an Alaska Airlines flight.
Avolon CEO Andy Cronin said preliminary findings from a US regulatory investigation into the incident were “positive”, in not appearing to show any design implications for the aircraft or systemic production issues.
“I think undoubtedly they’re making significant progress on what they’ve been trying to achieve,” Cronin said when asked if Boeing was getting on top of its problems.
Boeing has been under fire from regulators and airlines over a succession of quality issues that have slowed production and development timelines. Aircraft lessors are major buyers of aircraft and Avolon has 116 737 MAX on order.
Cronin said Avolon had discovered a large number of “lower level” quality issues on aircraft recently delivered by multiple manufacturers, adding they were not confined to Boeing or the MAX.
“As supply chains are scrambling to reinstate production, we are seeing compounding factors affecting quality and delivery but not at a level where it’s affecting safety,” he said.
Examples of the issues might be around cosmetic items or “second, third order” type fittings, Cronin said.
Boeing, its main competitor Airbus and the big suppliers both manufacturers work with, are now playing much more of a role across the supply chain as a result, and that is having a positive effect, Cronin said.
The constrained supply of aircraft and increased demand for travel has benefited lessors over the past year, with average lease rates rising by 20%-30% in 2023 for current-technology aircraft that are increasingly in demand to rent.
Avolon reported a full-year core profit of $2.5bn on Thursday and a 34% year-on-year increase in net income to $339m, excluding the effect in 2022 of a heavy writedown on aircraft stuck in Russia due to Western sanctions.
Cronin said he saw “plenty of room” for a further increase in lease rates in 2024, though not at the “exceptional” pace of 2023.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Boeing ‘making progress’ with quality issues
Avolon CEO sees positives in 737 MAX 9 findings
Image: PETER CZIBORRA
Dublin — Boeing is “undoubtedly” making progress in getting on top of quality issues, the head of Avolon, the world’s second largest aircraft leasing firm and a major Boeing customer, says.
Boeing was hit by the latest in a series of problems on January 5 when a door panel flew off one of its 737 MAX 9 jets in the midst of an Alaska Airlines flight.
Avolon CEO Andy Cronin said preliminary findings from a US regulatory investigation into the incident were “positive”, in not appearing to show any design implications for the aircraft or systemic production issues.
“I think undoubtedly they’re making significant progress on what they’ve been trying to achieve,” Cronin said when asked if Boeing was getting on top of its problems.
Boeing has been under fire from regulators and airlines over a succession of quality issues that have slowed production and development timelines. Aircraft lessors are major buyers of aircraft and Avolon has 116 737 MAX on order.
Cronin said Avolon had discovered a large number of “lower level” quality issues on aircraft recently delivered by multiple manufacturers, adding they were not confined to Boeing or the MAX.
“As supply chains are scrambling to reinstate production, we are seeing compounding factors affecting quality and delivery but not at a level where it’s affecting safety,” he said.
Examples of the issues might be around cosmetic items or “second, third order” type fittings, Cronin said.
Boeing, its main competitor Airbus and the big suppliers both manufacturers work with, are now playing much more of a role across the supply chain as a result, and that is having a positive effect, Cronin said.
The constrained supply of aircraft and increased demand for travel has benefited lessors over the past year, with average lease rates rising by 20%-30% in 2023 for current-technology aircraft that are increasingly in demand to rent.
Avolon reported a full-year core profit of $2.5bn on Thursday and a 34% year-on-year increase in net income to $339m, excluding the effect in 2022 of a heavy writedown on aircraft stuck in Russia due to Western sanctions.
Cronin said he saw “plenty of room” for a further increase in lease rates in 2024, though not at the “exceptional” pace of 2023.
Reuters
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