The negative effects of the Boeing hatch falling off accident are still spreading.
According to data released by Boeing, the company only delivered 83 commercial aircraft in the first quarter, a 36% decrease compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, Airbus delivered 142 commercial aircraft during the same period, up from 127 in the first quarter of 2023.
Boeing and Airbus are the two giants in the global commercial aircraft manufacturing sector. They are also each other's main rivals, and their delivery volume far exceeds that of other manufacturers.
According to media reports, since the 737MAX9 cabin door fell off in January of this year, Boeing has faced a series of safety issues. As a result, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires that until quality and safety procedures are properly followed, Boeing can only produce 38 737 series aircraft per month, which has led to a sharp slowdown in the company's production.
According to Statista's data, Boeing's delivery volume was always higher than that of Airbus until 2019, but since Boeing had two 737 MAX 8 crashes in 2018 and 2019 and the subsequent temporary suspension of production of the model, the company's leading position has ceased to exist.
Boeing's chief financial officer Brian West said that once the company is “compliant,” production will increase, and delivery data for the second half of the year is expected to improve.