The head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Mike Whitaker, stated that Boeing has not yet resumed producing 737 MAX airplanes following a machinist strike, but plans to begin later this month. This announcement was made during an interview with Reuters, where Whitaker elaborated on his recent visit to Boeing's 737 plant in Renton, Washington. The strike, which commenced on September 13, involved over 33,000 workers and led to a complete halt in the production of Boeing's best-selling 737 MAX, 767, and 777 aircraft. It concluded on November 4 when workers voted to accept Boeing's latest contract offer, which included a significant 38% wage increase over four years. Despite this resolution, the immediate return to normal production levels has not been possible.
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Whitaker's visit and subsequent comments reflect the FAA's ongoing, heightened oversight of Boeing's operations, especially after a door panel incident in January involving an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9. This led to a cap on the production rate at 38 jets per month until Boeing could satisfy the FAA regarding quality control and safety measures.
The FAA administrator noted, "The thing that I was most struck by was we're four weeks post-strike and they're still not producing airplanes, because they're focused on their workforce, the training, making sure they have the supply chain sorted out." This statement underscores the complexities of restarting complex manufacturing lines post-strike, including retraining staff, ensuring supply chain stability, and maintaining the rigorous safety standards required by the FAA.
Boeing, under new CEO Kelly Ortberg, has been under pressure to restore its production capabilities swiftly, particularly given the company's financial losses and the ongoing need to fulfill a backlog of orders. However, Whitaker emphasized that safety and quality would not be compromised for speed, indicating that Boeing would need to prove its systems and processes are up to standard before any increase in production rates is considered. This situation highlights the delicate balance between operational recovery, workforce reintegration, and regulatory compliance, as Boeing navigates one of its most challenging periods in recent history.