Boeing has discovered misdrilled holes on some 737 Max fuselages, prompting plans to rework about 50 undelivered airplanes. While the issue does not pose immediate safety concerns, it could delay near-term deliveries. The problem was identified by an employee at Spirit AeroSystems, the fuselage manufacturer, and has led Boeing to dedicate time to focus on quality inspections at its Renton, Wash., factory. This comes as Boeing faces heightened scrutiny following a recent door plug blowout on an Alaska Airlines flight and ongoing fallout from the 737 Max's previous grounding due to flight-control system issues.
Boeing's CFO, Brian West, stated that the company will still meet its target of delivering at least 400 narrowbody 737s this year, despite a recent production flaw that has slowed down deliveries of the 737 MAX. However, Boeing will be on the lower end of its delivery target, and margins for its commercial airplanes business will be negative in the third quarter due to low deliveries and higher development costs. The production problem involves improperly drilled fastener holes on the 737 aft pressure bulkhead, requiring rework on about 75% of the 220 affected aircraft. The fix is expected to be time-consuming and may extend beyond November.
Boeing reported a 28% increase in revenue to $17.9 billion in Q1 2023, beating analysts' estimates, and delivered 130 commercial aircraft in the same period. The company said a new production problem that will delay deliveries of its 737 jets to airlines this summer won't affect its overall financial outlook for the year.
