Production, safety issues at Boeing could snarl summer travel
Newsy
Boeing's slew of problems is having a ripple effect. Experts say those issues could reach through the travel industry, just in time for summer.
Airlines awaiting new fleet deliveries from Boeing say they're being forced to curb expansion plans, potentially affecting everything from hiring to ticket prices.
The FAA placed a cap on Boeing's bestselling 737 Max jets in January to slow production after a door plug flew off the fuselage of a 737 Max 9 during an Alaska Airlines flight shortly after takeoff from Portland, Oregon.
This week, Boeing said it shipped only 27 planes in February, including only 17 Max jets. Before the Jan. 5 door plug incident, Boeing had been shipping 38 Max planes per month, and hoped to expand production this year.
This slowdown has had ripple effects across the industry.
"Airlines order aircraft generally 18 months or more in advance," said Henry Harteveldt, travel industry analyst at Atmosphere Research Group.
