Aviation Capital Group, the global full-service aircraft asset manager has confirmed the delivery of a Boeing 737-9 MAX aircraft to United Airlines. The jet features CFM International LEAP-1B engines and is the third aircraft scheduled to be delivered to the airline as part of a multiple-aircraft sale-leaseback transaction between ACG and United Airlines.

ACG specializes in commercial aircraft leasing and aviation finance. In addition to aircraft leasing services, we provide aircraft asset management solutions tailored to meet our customers’ fleet management needs. 

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Alaska Airlines Seattle Kraken aircraft

As the official airline sponsor of the Seattle Kraken, Alaska Airlines unveiled another Kraken-themed aircraft to pump up fans for the NHL season. This second design features the team logo, coordinates of Climate Pledge Arena, and its registration N933AK honoring Seattle’s 93.3 KJR FM, the home of the Kraken.  The Boeing 737 MAX jet will operate across the entire Alaska Airlines route network.

“We are incredibly grateful to our partner, Alaska Airlines, for their continued support of both our team and our fans. Unveiling this new design is the perfect way to celebrate the start of our fourth season.”

Jeff Webster

Chief Commercial Officer of the Seattle Kraken

“As the official airline of the Seattle Kraken, we’re thrilled to reveal a new design to celebrate our hometown’s NHL team. Whether at 30,000 feet or on the ice, we’ll be cheering the Kraken on this season!”

Eric Edge

Managing Director of Marketing and Advertising, Alaska Airlines

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Potential for jammed or restricted rudder on some Boeing 737

The US Federal Aviation Administration has this week issued a safety alert to airlines operating certain Boeing 737 models warning of a potential for limited or jammed rudder movement.  

The issue involves Boeing's 737, 737 -600/-700,-800,-900, 900ER, 737NG  and MAX 8, MAX 9 aircraft equipped with Collins Aerospace SVO-730 RRGAs, both in the US and around the world. According to the NTSB, there are more than 40 airlines outside the US that are operating potentially affected aircraft. 

The issue came to light after a incident on a Boeing 737 MAX 8, where the flightcrew were unable to move the rudder pedals during landing rollout. Following a post-incident investigation, it is thought the Collins Aerospace SVO-730 RRGA was the source of the flight control restriction. The FAA says RRGA provides rudder inputs during landing rollout, where directional guidance is provided by the autoflight system after touchdown on CAT IIIB equipped aeroplanes. The aeroplane was equipped with the RRGA, but not electrically connected to the Digital Flight Control System (DFCS). 

The FAA said that airlines should instruct pilots that the rudder control system could potentially become jammed or restricted in flight or during landing due to moisture that could accumulate and freeze in the RRGA actuator.  If the rudder restriction condition is encountered in flight, Boeing recommends suggests pilots should follow the Jammed or Restricted Flight Controls Non-Normal Checklist (NNC). If this rudder restriction is encountered on the ground, use differential braking to maintain the runway centerline. Flight crews should avoid using nosewheel steering above 100 Knots Indicated Airspeed (KIAS) unless necessary for aeroplane control as a potential for overcontrol exists.

SAFO24006 (faa.gov)

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Boeing furloughs thousands as no progress made to resolve strike

The U.S. manufacturer Boeing said on Wednesday it will temporarily furlough tens of thousands of employees after about 30,000 machinists went on strike on Friday, halting production of its 737 MAX and other aircraft.

"We are initiating temporary furloughs over the coming days that will impact a large number of US-based executives, managers and employees," CEO Kelly Ortberg said in an email to employees. "We are planning for selected employees to take one week of furlough every four weeks on a rolling basis for the duration of the strike."

The strike, Boeing's first since 2008, adds to a tumultuous year for the planemaker which began when a door panel blew off a new 737 MAX jet in mid-air in January.

Ortberg also said he and other Boeing leaders "will take a commensurate pay reduction for the duration of the strike."

Boeing and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers held two days of discussions in the presence of federal mediators. The union, which said on Tuesday it was frustrated with the first day of mediation, said late on Wednesday it had concluded another day of talks with "no meaningful progress."

ACG leases a Boeing 737- MAX 9 to United Airlines

Aviation Capital Group LLC, a premier global full-service aircraft asset manager, announced the delivery of one Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft to United Airlines. Featuring CFM International LEAP-1B engines, this is the first aircraft scheduled to deliver to the airline as part of a multiple-aircraft sale-leaseback transaction between ACG and United Airlines.

“It is with great enthusiasm that we commemorate the delivery of United Airlines' latest Boeing 737 MAX 9 with Aviation Capital Group. This milestone marks a significant achievement in our successful partnership with United Airlines. Our collaboration continues to strengthen, driven by shared values and a mutual commitment to customer satisfaction. The Boeing 737-9 MAX is a testament to our dedication to advancing a greener, more sustainable future in aviation,” said Carter White, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of ACG. “We eagerly anticipate the future as we continue our journey with United Airlines, setting new industry benchmarks for service excellence and environmental stewardship. With our shared values and commitment to innovation, we are confident that we will achieve even greater milestones in the years to come.”

“We are excited to take delivery of this 737-9 MAX, an important addition to our fleet. Our partnership with the team at Aviation Capital Group has been instrumental in supporting our fleet strategy, particularly as we invest in more fuel-efficient, customer-friendly aircraft,” said Pamela Hendry, Vice President and Treasurer of United Airlines.

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EL AL Israel Airlines completes order for up to 31 Boeing 737 MAX jets

Boeing and EL AL Israel Airlines confirmed this week that the Israeli flag carrier finalized an agreement for up to 31 737 MAX jets, supporting the airline's plans to renew its fleet of Next-Generation 737 aeroplanes.

"This is a significant milestone for EL AL, which will allow us to offer our customers the most advanced service and technology experience in the industry," said Dina Ben-Tal Ganancia. CEO EL AL Israel Airlines. "The implementation of the long-term procurement plan, which began with the purchase of an additional 787 Dreamliners earlier this year and culminates in the current deal, once again demonstrates our commitment to the Israeli public and the state."

Ben-Tal Ganancia added: "EL AL has a central role in ensuring open skies for Israel. The implementation of our strategic plan - which aims to expand the fleet, increase the value proposition for customers and increase capacity and seating - will ensure a strong and growing company for many years to come."

With the 737 MAX family, EL AL will achieve the best per-seat economics in its class, improved environmental performance and increased passenger comfort. In particular, the 737 MAX will reduce fuel use and emissions 20% compared to the airplanes it replaces and have a 50% smaller noise footprint.

"We are honoured EL AL has chosen Boeing aeroplanes to power its past, present and future as we continue to build on seven decades of partnership," said Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "We know EL AL depends on the versatility and reliability of Boeing aeroplanes, and we look forward to delivering the 737 MAX and 787 Dreamliner jets that will reshape and grow the airline in the coming decades."

EL AL's 737 MAX order follows its purchase earlier this year of three additional 787-9 aircraft with options for six more as the airline further expands its 787 Dreamliner fleet. The carrier will take delivery of a new 787-9 this year and plans to receive two more new 787-9s on lease in the coming years.

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flydubai starts flights to Basel despite Boeing delays

The Dubai-based budget carrier flydubai has become the first national carrier from the UAE to operate direct flights from Dubai to EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (BSL). The carrier now links the two airports with a four times a week, with services on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

The inaugural flight touched down at Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg and was met with a traditional water cannon salute, last Wednesday, 7th August.  The budget airline has rapidly grown its network in Europe to 29 destinations including Budapest, Catania, Krakow, Milan-Bergamo, Prague, Salzburg and Zagreb.

Flights between Dubai and Basel will be operated a fleet of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. Passengers travelling in Business Class can look forward to comfortable seats and internationally-inspired menus while Economy Class passengers can enjoy seats designed to optimise space and comfort.

flydubai also features exceptional inflight entertainment with a full HD, 11.6-inch screen with a wide selection of movies, TV shows, music and games. Passengers can enjoy complimentary seatback inflight entertainment in Business Class or purchase affordable inflight entertainment packages when travelling in Economy Class.

Jeyhun Efendi, Senior Vice President of commercial operations and e-commerce at flydubai, said: “at flydubai, we are committed to opening up underserved destinations and creating free flows of trade and tourism and we are pleased to add Basel to our network in Europe. EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg serves Switzerland, France and Germany, making it an important hub for travel, trade and tourism in the tri-border region that will benefit our customers from the UAE and beyond.”

“We also look forward to welcoming more travellers from Europe to Dubai and beyond on the flydubai network. Through Dubai’s aviation hub, passengers travelling from Basel can enjoy convenient connections to holiday destinations including Kenya, the Maldives, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Thailand,” added Efendi.

Boeing's records of who worked on the doorplug that blew off an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX jet deleted

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy has written a letter to a Senate committee that is investigating the Alaska Airlines 737 MAX doorplug blow out on 5th January, informing them of Boeing's lack of records.

Homendy stated that the NTSB doesn’t know who worked on the panel that blew off a 737 MAX 9 because Boeing’s CEO told her that he couldn’t provide the information because the company has no records about the job.  “The absence of those records will complicate the NTSB’s investigation moving forward,”

Homendy told senators last week that the NTSB asked Boeing for security camera footage that might help identify who worked on the panel in September, but was told the video was overwritten after 30 days — months before the blowout. Boeing delayed weeks before providing the names of 25 employees that work on doors at the manufacturer's Seattle facility, only handing over the information after Homendy had started giving her statement.  

Former Boeing whistleblower found dead

Police are still investigating the death of a former Boeing employee and whistleblower, John Barnett. Initial reports indicated that Barnett had died from what appeared to be "self-inflicted" gunshot wounds on 9th March.  

Airlines try to leverage Boeing woes despite lack of alternatives

Airline executives are frustrated with Boeing as its safety crisis has upended their business plans. But in a tight market for large aircraft supplied by two companies, they have little choice but do business with the U.S. planemaker, reports Rajesh Kumar Singh from Reuters.

Despite some public displays of alarm - United Airlines  CEO Scott Kirby flew to France to talk with Airbus as Boeing's latest crisis erupted - carriers are still negotiating new plane orders, looking to leverage Boeing's delays to secure better terms.

Boeing's delivery schedule faces extended delays following a Jan. 5 mid-flight cabin blowout that exposed problems with safety and quality control in its manufacturing processes. But rival Airbus already has a backlog of orders that makes shifting over a non-starter.

Instead, airlines are adopting a variety of strategies to try to stay in the game with Boeing, using orders of one type of plane as a placeholder to possibly take deliveries of a different model. They also are negotiating harder, looking to use production delays to get discounts from the planemaker on new orders and compensation for financial losses.

"Boeing customers don't have much option but to stick with Boeing whether they like it or not," said Scott Hamilton, managing director at aviation consulting firm Leeham Company.

Kirby has been among the most vocal in expressing frustrations with Boeing. He met with Airbus after regulators grounded all of United's Boeing 737 MAX 9 fleet and put a big question mark over certification of the larger variant MAX 10, which was due for deliveries this year and was to be the cornerstone of United's fleet.

NTSB investigating 'stuck' rudder pedals on United Airlines 737 MAX jet

Investigators at the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board  -  NTSB are looking into another incident involving the troubled 737 MAX aircraft, following an incident when the rudder pedals stopped working on a United Airlines plane last month.

The aircraft was performing flight UA1539, from Nassau, Bahamas, to Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey on 6th February 2024 when the incident occurred.  According to the preliminary report,  before the aircraft had reduced to taxing speed,  the rudder pedals for both the captain and the first officer stopped working. "The captain used the nose wheel steering tiller to keep the airplane near the runway centerline while slowing to a safe taxi speed before exiting the runway onto a high-speed turn-off," the report documented.  

The flight data recorder showed that the rudder surface position remained near its neutral position as the plane landed and during its rollout, despite the crew putting force on the rudder pedals, which was increasing.  The report said "Significant pedal force input was observed along with corresponding rudder surface movement. Afterward, the rudder pedals and rudder surface began moving as commanded and continued to function normally for the remainder of the taxi."  

737 MAX plane maker Boeing issued a statement this week,  "We worked closely with United Airlines to diagnose the rudder response issue observed during two 737-MAX 8 flights in early February. With coordination with United, the issue was successfully resolved with the replacement of three parts and the airplane returned to service last month."

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American Airlines has placed an order for 85 Boeing 737 MAX jets.

Boeing is celebrating a new order from American Airlines for its troubled 737 MAX jets, just at a time when the manufacturer needs some good news. 

It was confirmed today, that the U.S. mega-carrier is amending a previous order for 737 MAX 8 planes to the bigger version of the type the MAX 10. Plus it is further ordering 85 aircraft, with an option for another 75 MAX 10 jets.  

"Over the past decade, we have invested heavily to modernize and simplify our fleet, which is the largest and youngest among U.S. network carriers," said American's CEO Robert Isom. "These orders will continue to fuel our fleet with newer, more efficient aircraft so we can continue to deliver the best network and record-setting operational reliability for our customers."

The Boeing 737 MAX 10 can carry up to 230 passengers and is said to offer a range of up to 3,100 nautical miles with a full load. 

The whole MAX programme has been beset with problems since its inception and maiden flight back on 29th January 2016. Two fatal crashes of this type - Lion Air Flight 610 in late 2018 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 in early 2019, took the lives of 346 leading to a worldwide grounding of the 737 MAX jets.  More recently, loose and missing bolts on door plugs have been found after urgent inspections were carried out after an Alaska Airlines' jet suffered a major blowout mid-flight. The programme has also suffered from issues relating to fuel tank debris, wing spur cracks, misaligned holes, fuselage quality issues and supply chain delays are all taking their toll. 

The Federal Aviation Administration said on Monday that an audit into Boeing and supplier Spirit AeroSystems regarding the 737 MAX programme found multiple instances where the companies allegedly failed to comply with manufacturing quality control requirements. There were "non-compliance issues in Boeing’s manufacturing process control, parts handling and storage, and product control."

Last week, the FAA ordered Boeing to develop and present a comprehensive plan to address "systemic quality-control issues within 90 days.  

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Ryanair may have to cut summer flights due to further Boeing delays

Ryanair may have to cut summer flights due to further Boeing delays, reports Joanna Plucinska of Reuters. 

Ryanair will receive even fewer Boeing aircraft by the end of June than previously expected, CEO Michael O'Leary said on Friday, potentially causing the budget carrier to cut its summer schedule at the busiest time of the year.

The Dublin-based airline is the first in Europe to warn of disruption due a deepening crisis at Boeing, which has been mired in a regulatory audit and has been prohibited from ramping up 737 MAX production since the Jan. 5 mid-air panel blowout of a new Alaska Airlines MAX 9.

Ryanair was due to receive 57 Boeing MAX 8-200 planes by end-April, but just over a week ago Boeing told the airline it would receive around 50 aircraft by end-June, O'Leary said. That could now change.  "We don't really know how many aircraft we're going to get from Boeing," O'Leary told a media briefing. "We're pretty sure we're going to get 30 to 40. We're reasonably confident we're between 40 and 45. And now we are far less confident we're going to get between 45 and 50."

In a statement to Reuters, Boeing confirmed it had told some airlines that deliveries could be delayed as the company ensures planes meet all regulatory standards.  "We deeply regret the impact this is having on our valued customer Ryanair," Boeing said. "We're working to address their concerns and taking action on a comprehensive plan to strengthen 737 quality and delivery performance." 

The delays mean Ryanair might have to remove some flights from its summer schedule, O'Leary said, cutting capacity for what is expected to be a record summer of travel.  "If we only get 40, by the end of March we will have to announce some minor schedule cuts," he said.  That means Ryanair is likely to carry only 200 million passengers for the financial year beginning in April, versus the 205 million previously forecast.  Further capacity constraints could make the carrier less competitive against low-cost rivals like easyJet,  Ryanair's stock has risen by a quarter over the past two years, making it the best-performing European airline as the industry rides a post-pandemic boom in travel.

Four bolts missing from door plug of Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9...

The U.S. FAA has confirmed that not one, not two, not three, but four bolts used to hold a door plug on a Boeing 737 MAX 9 jet belonging to Alaska Airlines were missing, allowing the door panel to fall off during a flight in January.

The U.S. Safety Board investigating the incident said that evidence released this week shows bolts were missing from the door plug, which had been removed to fix rivets that were damaged in the production process.

The NTSB had previously remained silent on the cause for the panel to rip off during a flight operated by Alaska Airlines, but now it has confirmed that "The investigation continues to determine what manufacturing documents were used to authorize the opening and closing" of the plug during the rivet rework,"  The troubled aircraft had recently experienced pressurisation warnings on previous flights had climbed to around 16,000 feet following departure from Portland, Oregon.

The NTSB said it had been focused on how this panel or door plug which is fitted into a number of Boeing 737 MAX 9 models as a replacement for an optional emergency exit - detached from the Alaska Air plane. The report indicates that the plug is held down by four bolts, and then secured by "stop fittings" at 12 different locations along the side of the plug and the door frame.

Boeing's MAX production issues ripple across aerospace industry

Boeing's troubles with its 737 MAX jets are upending the aerospace industry's 2024 plans,

changing airlines' fleet and expansion goals as U.S. regulators froze production of the best-selling jets.

The FAA ramped up scrutiny of Boeing after a frightening Jan. 5 incident when a cabin panel tore off of an Alaska Airlines jet mid-flight. The plane landed safely with only minor injuries to people on board - but that experience has forced the industry to grapple with problems with Boeing's manufacturing and quality control processes.

The FAA late Wednesday froze increases in production of the single-aisle 737 MAX due to the issues, which have frustrated executives dependent on Boeing, one of only two major global plane manufacturers.

"Boeing needs to get their act together," said American Airlines CEO Robert Isom. "It is hard enough running an airline. We need quality product, and that's what we demand."

The FAA's order means Boeing can continue producing MAX jets at its current monthly rate, but it cannot increase that rate. It offered no estimate of how long the limitation would last and did not specify the number of planes Boeing can produce each month.

The FAA's unprecedented intervention in production schedules could further delay some deliveries of new planes to airlines and hurt suppliers already reeling from an earlier MAX crisis and the pandemic.

Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun told Reuters on Thursday that he supported the FAA decision. "We all want safe airplanes. This is a safe aeroplane," he said in Washington, where he has been meeting with U.S. legislators.

United Airlines finds loose bolts during inspections of 737 MAX 9 planes....

United Airlines says it has found bolts in need of "additional tightening" during inspections of Boeing 737 MAX 9 which had been removed from service following the blowout of a doorplug on an Alaska Airlines aircraft last week. 

United Airlines said it believed these to be "installation issues" relating to door plugs and these will be "remedied" before the aircraft type can return to operational use. 

"Since we began preliminary inspections on Saturday, we have found instances that appear to relate to installation issues in the door plug - for example, bolts that needed additional tightening." the statement said. 

The grounding of the 737 MAX 9 jets has caused United to cancel over 200 flights as of Monday and the U.S. mega-carrier expects a significant number of cancellations on Tuesday.  "We have been able to operate some planned flights by switching to other aircraft types, avoiding about 30 cancellations each on Monday and Tuesday,". 

Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 had three previous pressure warnings before blowout flight.

Jennifer Homendy, chair of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board said today that the Boeing 737 MAX 9 that suffered a blowout had been restricted by the carrier, Alaska Airlines from doing long flights over water because of three previous warnings of potential pressurization problems

According to Homendy, the warning light illuminated on three different occasions - 7 December, 3 January and 4 January leading the airline to restrict it from operating flights to Hawaii or other long flights over water so the 737 MAX 9 “could return very quickly to an airport” if the warning light reappeared

Whilst it is unclear if the previous warnings were connected with the incident on Friday when a plug covering an unused emergency exit door blew off the plane as it flew over Oregon.  The door plug is 26 by 48 inches and weighs 63 pounds / 28.5 kilograms. The NTSB confirmed the lost door plug had been found in the garden of a teacher from Portland and would soon be examined by investigators.

Homendy also said that the depressurization and rush of air damaged a number of seats, pulled insulation from the walls, and caused the cockpit door to flew open. She said the force of air also ripped the headset off the co-pilot and the captain lost part of her headset. A quick reference checklist flew out of the open cockpit. The cockpit doors are supposed to be incredibly strong and locked at all times during a flight following the 9/11 hijackings, so shouldn't have been able to be opened by the wind. 

 Aviation services provider AAR Corp confirmed that it had worked on the aircraft for Alaska Airlines, but had not worked on that area of the aircraft.  "AAR was contracted by Alaska Airlines to perform a 2KU Modification (WiFi modification) on the aircraft that was performed from Nov. 27 to Dec. 7, 2023," AAR said in a statement on Monday. 

Airlines have now been cleared to carry out urgent checks on the 171 Boeing 737 MAX 9 jets that are in service after Boeing issued detailed instructions on Monday, which were approved by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. These checks, rapidly introduced before the cause of the plug blowing out is known are said to take between 4 and 8 hours could be an indication of the pressure being brought by the manufacturer to stem the damage to the reputation of the MAX series of aircraft. 

 

Cockpit voice recorder data on the Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 jet which lost a panel mid-flight on Friday was overwritten.....

The cockpit voice recorder data on the Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 jet which lost a panel mid-flight on Friday was overwritten, U.S. authorities said, renewing attention on an industry call for longer in-flight recordings. By Valerie Insinna, David Shepardson and Lisa Barrington for Reuters. 

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) chair Jennifer Homendy said on Sunday no data was available on the cockpit voice recorder because it was not retrieved within two hours - when recording restarts, erasing previous data.

The U.S. requires cockpit voice recorders to log two hours of data versus 25 hours in Europe for planes made after 2021.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has since 2016 called for 25-hour recording on planes manufactured from 2021.

"There was a lot going on, on the flight deck and on the plane. It's a very chaotic event. The circuit breaker for the CVR (cockpit voice recorder) was not pulled. The maintenance team went out to get it, but it was right at about the two-hour mark," Homendy said.

The plane's flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder were sent to NTSB labs on Sunday to be read but no voice data was available, she said.

Boeing 737 MAX - US grounds some Boeing MAX planes for safety checks following Alaska Airlines aircraft suffers blowout

U.S. regulators on Saturday temporarily grounded 171 Boeing 737 MAX 9 jetliners for safety checks following a cabin panel blowout that forced a new Alaska Airlines jet carrying passengers to make an emergency landing, reports Reuters. 

A piece of fuselage tore off the left side of the jet as it climbed following takeoff from Portland, Oregon, en route to Ontario, California, on Friday, forcing pilots to turn back and land safely with all 171 passengers and six crew on board.

Several passengers suffered injuries. The plane had been in service for just eight weeks.

Late on Saturday, both Alaska Air and United Airlines (UAL.O) said they would halt use of some MAX 9 planes they had resumed using that day after inspections they believed would answer the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)'s concerns.

Alaska said it was in talks "to determine what, if any, further work is required before these aircraft are returned to service."

The FAA decision is well short of the global grounding of Boeing (BA.N) MAX jets almost five years ago after two crashes that killed nearly 350 people.

Still, it is a blow to Boeing as it tries to recover from back-to-back crises over safety and the pandemic under heavy debt.

The FAA did not rule out further action as a probe began into the apparent structural failure, which left a rectangular hole in an area of fuselage reserved for an optional extra door but which is deactivated on Alaska's aircraft.

The Boeing 737 MAX 9s fitted with a special door replacement "plug" cannot fly until they are inspected and repaired if necessary, the FAA said.

"The FAA is requiring immediate inspections of certain Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes before they can return to flight," FAA chief Mike Whitaker said.

Social media posts of the Alaska Airlines jet showed oxygen masks deployed and a portion of the aircraft's side wall missing.

A section of the fuselage reserved for the optional door had vanished, leaving a neat door-shaped gap. The seat next to the panel, which contained an ordinary window, had been unoccupied.

Boeing delays 737 ramp up.

Boeing has signalled to suppliers that plans to ramp up production of its bestselling 737 narrowbody jetliner will move about two months more slowly than originally anticipated, according to two people with knowledge of the matter.

The U.S. planemaker now expects it will produce 42 of its 737s per month starting in February 2024, according to a new master schedule that Boeing briefed to its suppliers over the past week, the sources said, reports Valerie Insinna, Reuters. 

Both Boeing and its European rival Airbus (AIR.PA) have laid out ambitious plans to increase production, particularly for popular single-aisle models, to meet soaring customer demand. However, both planemakers have had to battle supply chain bottlenecks and production disruptions.

Analysts had already suspected Boeing would alter its on-paper schedule, which targeted the end of 2023 to reach 42 jets produced per month, after a supplier error slowed ramp-up plans this autumn.

The new schedule pushes subsequent rate increases as well, shifting Boeing's plan for 47.2 jets a month from June to August 2024, while its target to increase 737 production to 52.5 jets a month was moved from December 2024 to February 2025.

WestJet confirms summer services between Halifax and Dublin, Edinburgh and London will return next year.

The Canadian airline WestJet has confirmed it will restart seasonal services between  Halifax and Dublin, Edinburgh and London next year.

WestJet Vice-President External Affairs, Andrew Gibbons said:  "In service of our valued relationship with the province, airport, partners and guests, we are thrilled to resume service between Halifax and Europe, strengthening the region's critical connections to global hubs, tourism and business economies. The celebration reaffirms our commitment to the city of Halifax and surrounding region, bringing to life our promise of bolstering leisure travel options in Atlantic Canada and further connecting our guests with the people and places they love most."

WestJet Route	Frequency	Start Date	Departure time (local)	Arrival time (local)
Halifax – London (Gatwick)	4x/week	April 28	11:00 p.m.	9:04 a.m.
London (Gatwick) - Halifax	4x/week	April 29	11:00 a.m.	1:46 p.m.
Halifax – Dublin	4x/week	June 19	10:30 p.m.	7:55 a.m.
Dublin – Halifax	4x/week	June 20	9:30 a.m.	11:32 a.m.
Halifax – Edinburgh*	3x/week	June 20	10:40 p.m.	8:04 a.m.
Edinburgh – Halifax*	3x/week	June 21	9:30 a.m.	11:38 a.m.

*New route not previously operated 

"WestJet has connected Halifax Stanfield and key European destinations for several years, and we're thrilled they plan to offer three non-stop transatlantic routes again next summer," said Joyce Carter, President & CEO, Halifax International Airport Authority. "Dublin and London Gatwick were popular routes in the past, both for Atlantic Canadians and Europeans, and we're delighted to add Edinburgh to our route map in 2024."

"We are thrilled to see the return of WestJet's non-stop flights to these key destinations. Europe is an important market for Nova Scotia, and direct flights play a key role in leveraging these markets as people want to spend less time in transit and more time at their destination. The return of these routes help connect us to the global marketplace, bring new investment, support tourism growth and promote our province as a great place to visit, live and invest," said Honourable Susan Corkum-Greek, Minister of Economic Development.

"We are delighted West Jet is renewing its commitment to Halifax and the Martimes by adding new direct flights across the pond, a valued travel destination for so many, with the promise of a boon for tourism in our region. Kudos to Joyce Carter and her team for the exceptional work to increase air access to and from Halifax Stanfield International Airport," said Mayor Mike Savage.