Days after Boeing announced a production halt of the 737 MAX, the three major U.S. credit rating agencies have turned slightly negative on the manufacturer with new outlooks that stress growing demands on the company’s credit access and softening cash prospects.
Following Boeing’s announcement that it would temporarily halt production of the 737 MAX, its large and small suppliers are assessing the potential impact to their operations.
Spirit Airlines has begun retrofitting its all-Airbus fleet with newly-designed seats in a bet that passenger comfort can be enhanced without budging on seat pitch.
Airbus is not benefiting from Boeing’s ongoing 737 MAX troubles, including the U.S. manufacturer’s Dec. 16 decision to suspend production of the type, Airbus chief commercial officer Christian Scherer said.
UK long-haul operator Virgin Atlantic is considering postponing the retirement of its remaining Airbus A340s because of “ongoing supply issues” with the engines on its Rolls-Royce powered Boeing 787s.
There are increasing signs across the region that demand and profitability will be under pressure in 2020, although airlines are still planning to renew their fleets and introduce new aircraft types.
Israel’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAAI) has issued an airworthiness directive (AD) to airlines operating Boeing 737 freighters modified by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).
FAA administrator Steve Dickson suggested Boeing improve the “quality and timeliness” of information it is providing the agency to support getting the 737 MAX back into service, part of a larger message that Boeing’s efforts should focus on meeting regulatory demands, not influencing the process.
