Boeing is handling the 737 Max 9 crisis 'much, much better' than previous scandals, the boss of the world's top airline trade group says

Pete Syme
·2 min read
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  • Willie Walsh, director general of IATA, said he was confident in Boeing's leadership amid the 737 Max 9 saga.

  • "I think they've responded much, much better to this than other events," Walsh said.

  • Boeing has faced public criticism from a number of airline CEOs since the mid-air blowout of a door plug in January.

Boeing received some much-needed support from the head of the foremost airline trade group on Monday, Reuters reported.

The American manufacturer has faced criticism from the chiefs of airlines like Emirates and United since last month's 737 Max 9 blowout.

But Willie Walsh, director general of the International Air Transport Association, is backing the firm's current leaders.

"Boeing are taking the right measures. I think they've responded much, much better to this than other events," Walsh, the former CEO of British Airways' parent group IAG, told Reuters.

After an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 lost its door plug in midair last month, Boeing has been apologetic and vowed to improve its quality-control processes.

"We caused the problem, and we understand that," CEO Dave Calhoun said during its fourth-quarter earnings call.

Boeing was more defensive during the previous Max crisis after 346 people were killed in two crashes in 2018 and 2019. The then-CEO, Dennis Muilenburg, lost his job over the scandal.

"I've heard people say you need a change in leadership. I disagree," Walsh told Reuters. "I'm confident that he [Calhoun] will fix it."

Speaking in Singapore the day before the start of the Singapore Airshow, the IATA boss added he didn't expect Boeing's troubles to impact orders, or that passengers would avoid airlines which use the Max 9.

Boeing had a promising start to the Singapore Airshow on Tuesday. Thai Airways ordered 45 of its 787 Dreamliners, and Royal Brunei Airlines ordered another four.

At the Singapore Airshow, there's also a lot of attention on China's first homegrown airliner — which is making its international debut.

The Comac C919 is a narrowbody jet that is expected to compete with the Boeing 737 Max and Airbus A320neo. Tibet Airlines finalized an order for 40 of them on Tuesday, according to the Associated Press.

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