Aviation

Boeing issued immediate response on 16 B737 MAX customers

Boeing will 'very shortly' increase 737 MAX manufacturing to 38 per month.

Boeing issued immediate response on 16 B737 MAX customers: Boeing has recommended on Friday to 16 of its customers to address a potential production issue related to an electrical power system in certain 737 MAX airplanes before operating them.

The 737 MAX was grounded worldwide in March 2019 after two crashes killed 346 people and was grounded worldwide for more than 20 months. Regulators in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Brazil and other countries recertified the plane to fly after Boeing changed an automated flight-control system that caused the crashes.

Boeing said that the recommendation was made “to allow for verification that a sufficient ground path exists for a component of the electrical power system.” Further, Boeing said it also informing their customers of specific tail numbers and provides direction on appropriate corrective actions.

Boeing did not specify which are the 16 airlines grounded again, but the largest operators of 737 MAX are Southwest Airlines, United, and American Airlines are definitely impacted.

FAA released statement in twitter:

.@Boeing recommends operators of some 737 MAX airplanes temporarily remove them from service to address a potential electrical issue. The FAA will ensure the issue is addressed. Passengers should contact airlines about possible flight delays and cancellations. pic.twitter.com/i6r1fcP5RR

— The FAA ✈️ (@FAANews) April 9, 2021

Shares of Boeing fell slightly, about 1.4% in early trading Friday following the announcement.

Aviation

COMAC Unveils Plans for the C929 to Rival Airbus and Boeing

After the success of China’s first C919 aircraft, the country is setting its sights on developing a larger plane. COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China) has officially confirmed plans to build a widebody aircraft, marking a significant step in its aircraft lineup.

Traditionally, Airbus and Boeing dominate the widebody aircraft market, with decades of expertise in developing planes and engines capable of carrying heavy payloads. China, which currently relies on imported engines, is now aiming to challenge these giants with its own widebody jet, the C929, designed to compete with the Airbus A350 and Boeing 777.

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The C929 will be China’s first independently developed long-range widebody aircraft. It adheres to international airworthiness standards and boasts independent intellectual property rights. The baseline version is designed to seat 280 passengers and offers a range of 12,000 kilometers, catering to global demand for both regional and international air travel.

Russia, which also needs reliable narrowbody and widebody aircraft, could become a key customer for the C929. Additionally, China plans to target the broader Asian market as it continues to expand its aviation capabilities.

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China’s aviation progress includes the ARJ21 (now called C909), a regional jet with 100 seats for shorter routes, and the C919, a narrowbody jet with 180 seats designed to rival the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320. Both models have found increasing demand in the domestic market.

At China’s largest air show in Zhuhai, COMAC announced that Air China will be the launch customer for the C929 widebody jet, though details about order size and delivery timelines were not disclosed.

Other major deals announced by COMAC include:

Hainan Airlines: Firm orders for 60 C919 and 40 C909 regional jets.
Colorful Guizhou Airlines: 30 C909 jets, with 20 firm orders and 10 provisional agreements.

The C929, renamed from the CR929 after Russia withdrew from the joint development project in 2023, is expected to carry 280–400 passengers with a range of 12,000 kilometers, competing directly with Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner.

According to COMAC’s deputy general manager, Tong Yu, the first fuselage section of the C929 is expected by September 2027, with prototype test flights anticipated soon after.