Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg confirmed on Tuesday (July 29th) that Boeing will further delay the delivery of two 737 Max new models until 2026. Originally, Boeing hoped that the Max 7 (the shortest version of the flagship narrow-body aircraft) would be certified by 2022, but the engine anti-icing system issue has not been resolved. This system is a crucial safety feature used to prevent icing in cold weather conditions and at high altitudes.
Ortberg stated during a conference call, “The time spent searching for a solution has been longer than expected, and we now anticipate certification in 2026.”
As early as 2023, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States warned that if the system were to fail, it could cause the engines to overheat, potentially leading to debris falling and hitting the aircraft. Boeing subsequently submitted a waiver application, stating that engine failure was “highly unlikely,” but withdrew the application in January 2024 following an incident involving Alaska Airlines, which plunged Boeing into a safety crisis.
Ortberg told investors on Tuesday that Boeing has been exploring different solutions, however, “Engineering designs have not yielded results in the time frame we expected, and we still have work to do.”
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary also confirmed during a recent earnings conference call that Boeing’s Commercial Airplanes chief has written to confirm that the first batch of 15 Max 10 aircraft will be delivered in the spring of 2027.
A Boeing spokesperson mentioned, “We have a mature technical solution that includes design updates, these updates will be included in the baseline certification of the 737-7 and 737-10. We are finalizing analysis and will be submitting information to the FAA, continuing to work under their strict supervision to meet safety and regulatory requirements.”
Ortberg has been at the helm of Boeing for almost a year, leading the company to reverse its losses. The certification of Max 7 and Max 10 will be crucial. Boeing has been increasing production of its cash cow 737 Max, currently reaching the production limit of 38 aircraft per month as regulated by the FAA.
Boeing’s revenue for the second quarter exceeded expectations at $22.7 billion, with a net loss of $612 million. Its stock price dropped by about 4% on Tuesday, but has still risen over 30% since the beginning of this year.