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New problems for Boeing, after the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) decided to freeze the planned increase in production of 737 Max. This move interrupts the airline’s growth ambitions at a time of strong demand and fierce competition with Airbus.
The regulator said it would not allow further increases in production of Boeing’s flagship model. At the same time, it approved the inspection procedures that airlines must carry out to resume flights of the 737 Max, which has been grounded since the beginning of the month after the near accident of the 737 Max 9.
The FAA’s intervention represents a blow to CEO Dave Calhoun, who will have to set annual targets for Boeing’s 737 deliveries when it releases earnings on January 31.