After the door of a Boeing 737 MAX was torn off mid-flight in early January, the American Civil Aviation Authority conducted an audit. He points out several shortcomings in quality control. And the recent incidents recorded on the planes don’t help. The manufacturer’s image is damaged. Are Airbus’ ‘setbacks’ for the better?
After the door was torn off due to missing bolts, the American Civil Aviation Authority (FAA) investigated. After six weeks at Boeing, on the 737 MAX assembly line and at supplier Spirit AeroSystems, the results are overwhelming. According to New York TimesOf the 89 audits conducted on its manufacturing processes, Boeing failed 33 times. The FAA gave her 90 days to submit a corrective action plan to address the quality control issues.
And if that wasn’t enough, a series of incidents involving almost all Boeing models has further damaged its image. Loss of wheels, opening of a cargo door in flight, engine on fire, damaged wing, landing gear collapse, sudden loss of altitude… all these problems are related to operation and not production. They therefore cannot be attributed to Boeing. The fact remains that the confidence of passengers and companies is eroding. A boon for Airbus?
The European aircraft manufacturer is one step ahead of its rival in terms of orders, that is undeniable, but airlines continue to buy Boeing despite everything. They have ordered 1,300 aircraft in 2023. The 737 MAX crashes, its forced immobilization, and the delay in the 777X and MAX-10 programs have not resulted in subsequent cancellations. Although some companies such as United Airlines are threatening this, few have taken action to date. Boeing even recorded fewer cancellations than Airbus last year, 160 compared to 225. So the duel between the two giants is still alive, and that is all the better.
Airbus needs Boeing
The European aircraft manufacturer has in all cases, some interest in this duopoly remains. Of 8,500 aircraft in its order book, companies today sign a contract with Airbus dointment to waitDr.six years old receive their first copies on average. If this delay had just been extended, theAre customers may then be tempted to go see the competition. Therefore, in order not to be overwhelmed by orders and to be able to deliver its aircraft in a reasonable time, Airbus paradoxically needs Boeing to recover part of the market. Without new factories, Airbus production will not be able to increase 1,200 devices per year by 2026.
Opposing cash flow but common subcontractors
The problems of the MAX and the cessation of activities during the health crisis had the main effect of increasing the population’s bills L’HASAmerican who had to go into debt. The group has been in the red for five consecutive financial years and now faces $40 billion in net debt. In this context, launching a new low-carbon aircraft program, for example, so as not to be left behind by Airbus, is an impossible task. For the European, on the other hand, all lights are green. There is net cash about €10 billion. This is an undeniable asset for carrying out various projects, such as the hydrogen plane, the intelligent wings or the air taxi.
However, Airbus is not happy with Boeing’s “setbacks”. With increases in production, labor shortages and supply issues, the country, like its rivals, is at a peak. And then some of his partners, especially French, also work for Boeing. Lhas “Boeing French team” as we call it includes, among other things Latécoère, Safran, Thales, Daher, and Ratier-Figeac. They offer wiring, of the doors, of the engines, of the’avionics, or structural parts for several aircraft Boeing-esque the 787, the 737 MAX and the 777X. When the American aircraft manufacturer catches a cold, about ten of them French suppliers cough. And that’s not good for anyone.