Spirit AeroSystems announces further reduction in workforce

Spirit AeroSystems announced Friday it will further reduce employment at its facility in Wichita, Kan., as a result of the most recent rate reduction on the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and the ongoing global pandemic. The pandemic continues to impact the demand for new commercial aircraft and the airline industry as a whole.

"Our production rates for commercial aircraft have fallen from historic highs to significantly lower volumes in a matter of months," said Tom Gentile, president and CEO of Spirit AeroSystems.

The 737 MAX production rate reduction is the third this year, lowering Spirit's production from 125 units to 72 units for 2020, a reduction of more than 80 percent from its 2019 production rates.

To support the alignment of workforce levels with the customer demand for aircraft, Spirit will reduce headcount on commercial programs by 1,100 employees. This announcement represents 450 new layoffs at the Wichita site when taking into account prior layoff notifications and employees transitioning to defense programs, moving to the temporary special project to build ventilators or electing to participate in the voluntary layoff opportunity.

"We are taking this action to better calibrate our employment level to the reduced demand we see from our customers. This action, along with previous actions, is intended to reduce costs, increase liquidity and position Spirit to remain financially healthy while we move through a period of recovery in the commercial aviation market,” said Gentile. "Although this extraordinary time has required us to make difficult decisions, we remain focused on fulfilling requirements to our customers, including the important work we provide for defense and space programs," Gentile said. "I continue to remain confident in the future of the aviation industry, and in our ability to navigate through these challenges to emerge a stronger company."

Past stories on Spirit layoffs:

May 2020 - Spirit AeroSystems reducesemployment in Wichita as a result of lower demand

September 2013 - Spirit AeroSystems layoffs

July 2013 - 360 layoffs at SpiritAeroSystems

Boeing plans 737 MAX aircraft return to service in mid-2020

The Boeing Company informed customers and suppliers on Tuesday that they are currently estimating the ungrounding of the 737 MAX will begin during mid-2020.

“As we have emphasized, the Federal Aviation Administration and other global regulators will determine when the 737 MAX returns to service,” Boeing said in a statement. “We are informing our customers and suppliers that we are currently estimating that the ungrounding of the 737 MAX will begin during mid-2020. We acknowledge and regret the continued difficulties that the grounding of the 737 MAX has presented to our customers, our regulators, our suppliers, and the flying public.”

Following Boeing's announcement, Canadian-based airline WestJet announced it will be updating its schedule to remove the 737 MAX aircraft through to June 24. WestJet has completed more than 98 percent of its planned departures even while its 13 MAX aircraft remain on the ground.

The 737 Max was grounded after the crashes of two jets – a Lion Air flight in October 2018 and an Ethiopian Airlines flight last March.

First United Airlines 737 MAX 9 aircraft delivered

United Airlines announced Monday that it has taken delivery of its first 737 MAX 9 aircraft from the Boeing Delivery Center in Seattle, Wash. The new aircraft, which arrived right after Earth Day, reduces fuel use and CO2 emissions significantly compared with older generation aircraft. In honor of this more eco-friendly aircraft, United has given the MAX a new livery, similar to its fuel-efficient Boeing Dreamliner aircraft, so that employees and customers can easily recognize the plane and its superior fuel efficiency.

United expects to take delivery of two more 737 MAX 9 aircraft this month, and will have 10 by the end of the year. The aircraft will enter United's schedule June 7 with service between the airline's hub at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport and five cities – Anchorage, Alaska; Austin, Texas; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Orlando, Fla.. and San Diego, Calif. The aircraft will operate on additional routes from Houston and Los Angeles International Airport starting June 29.

FAA certifies Boeing 737 MAX 8 jet for commercial service

Boeing announced Thursday that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has certified the 737 MAX 8 airplane for commercial service. Boeing is now in the final stages of preparing for the first 737 MAX 8 delivery to customers in the coming months.

To earn certification for the 737 MAX 8, Boeing undertook a comprehensive test program that began just over one year ago with four airplanes, plus ground and laboratory testing. Following a rigorous certification process, the FAA granted Boeing an Amended Type Certificate for the 737 MAX 8, verifying the design complies with required aviation regulations and is safe and reliable.

The 737 MAX 8 reduces fuel use and CO2 emissions by an additional 14 percent over today's most fuel-efficient single-aisle airplanes.

The MAX 8 and 9 will be followed in 2019 by the smaller MAX 7 and higher capacity MAX 200, while studies and discussion continue with customers on growing the family.

The 737 MAX incorporates the latest technology CFM International LEAP-1B engines, Advanced Technology winglets and other improvements. It is the fastest-selling airplane in Boeing history, accumulating more than 3,600 orders to date from 83 customers worldwide.

Air Niugini orders four Boeing 737 MAX planes

Boeing and Air Niugini announced an order for four 737 MAX 8 airplanes Thursday at the Singapore Airshow.

"The superb economics of the 737 MAX will enable us to increase flight frequencies and develop into new markets which offer significant opportunities for Air Niugini," said Frederick Reiher, the airline's chairman. "We look forward to receiving our first airplanes in 2020."

The previously unidentified order adds to the national carrier's current fleet of Next-Generation 737s and 767-300ERs (extended range) airplanes.

The 737 MAX incorporates the latest technology CFM International LEAP-1B engines, Advanced Technology winglets and other improvements to deliver the highest efficiency, reliability and passenger comfort in the single-aisle market. The new single-aisle airplane will deliver 20 percent lower fuel use than the first Next-Generation 737s and the lowest operating costs in its class – eight percent per seat less than its nearest competitor.

Air Niugini operates a robust domestic network of more than 25 destinations from its Port Moresby hub, as well as numerous international routes across Asia-Pacific, including Australia, Singapore, Indonesia, Fiji, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Hong Kong, Vanuatu, Japan, and in the near future, China.

Video: Boeing ramping up production for new 737 MAX jet

Demand for the Boeing 737 is at an all-time high, and production for the new 737 MAX is ramping up. See how Boeing's Renton, Wash., team is evolving its manufacturing process to build the 737 MAX. Find out more about Boeing and the 737 at http://www.boeing.com/innovation/

New Canadian airline orders five Boeing 737 MAX 7s

The Boeing Company and Jetlines announced an order for five 737 MAX 7s on Monday as the new Canadian ultra-low cost carrier builds its future fleet. The order, valued at $438 million at current list prices, includes purchase rights for an additional 16 737 MAXs.

The new airline, headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, plans to tap into passenger demand by offering low cost airfares on routes that avoid direct competition with other airlines.

The 737 MAX incorporates the latest technology CFM International LEAP-1B engines, Advanced Technology winglets and other improvements to deliver the highest efficiency, reliability and passenger comfort in the single-aisle market. The 737 MAX 7 will be capable of flying more than 3,800 nautical miles, extending the range over today's 737-700 by approximately 400 nautical miles (741 kilometers).

With this order, the 737 MAX has orders for 2,562 airplanes from 55 customers worldwide.

Southwest Airlines adds Airplane Health Management system to predict maintenance issues

On Tuesday, Boeing announced that Southwest Airlines has selected Airplane Health Management (AHM) to enhance operational efficiency in its maintenance and engineering operations.

Southwest Airlines will use AHM to collect and evaluate airplane operations data while the airplane is in flight. This real-time data is used to signal ground operations crews of any potential maintenance issues before the airplane lands, minimizing flight schedule disruptions and maintenance-related delays.

Boeing technical teams will work with Southwest to facilitate initial deployment of the system for its Next-Generation 737s. Southwest is Boeing's 66th customer for AHM.

Southwest Airlines is an all-Boeing carrier and operates the largest 737 fleet of any airline. In 2011, the airline became the launch customer for the 737 MAX.

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Turkish Airlines orders 15 additional 737 planes

Boeing and Turkish Airlines on Monday finalized an order for 15 additional 737 MAX 8s, valued at $1.6 billion. The order follows the announcement in May 2013 when the Turkish carrier placed the largest Boeing order in the airline's history for 50 737 MAXs and 20 Next-Generation 737s.

With Monday's announcement, Turkish Airlines has more than 100 unfilled orders for Boeing airplanes; 65 737 MAXs, more than 25 Next-Generation 737s and 20 777-300ER (Extended Range) airplanes. The Istanbul-based carrier currently operates a fleet of more than 100 Next-Generation 737s and 15 777-300ERs.

The 737 MAX has surpassed 2,000 orders from 41 customers. The plane incorporates the latest-technology CFM International LEAP-1B engines. Airlines operating the 737 MAX will see an eight percent operating cost per seat advantage over tomorrow's competition.

Turkish Airlines currently serves 254 cities in 106 countries around the world from its base at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport.

China Eastern Airlines to buy 80 Boeing 737s

China Eastern Airlines has committed to purchase 80 737s, including Next-Generation 737 and 737 MAX airplanes, Boeing announcement Friday in a company statement.

When finalized, the order will become China’s largest-ever purchase by an airline for single-aisle airplanes, worth more than $8 billion at current list prices.

Boeing gets order for 30 737 MAX jets

Boeing celebrated a milestone achievement Tuesday on the 737 MAX program, surpassing the 2000^th order for the single-aisle airplane. With the addition of 30 orders from unidentified customers this week, the 737 MAX now has a total of 2,010 orders from 39 customers worldwide, valued at $209 billion at list prices. The 737 MAX also has commitments for more than 250 additional airplanes.

The 737 MAX has reached 2,000 orders faster than any other Boeing airplane in history. This unprecedented demand is fueled by air traffic growth and the need for more fuel-efficient airplanes.

"Since its first order, the 737 MAX has received more than 50 percent of the new orders versus its direct competition,” said Keith Leverkuhn, vice president and general manager, 737 MAX Program, Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

"We have a lot of faith in Boeing and the 737 MAX, especially since this will be the narrowbody aircraft of the future for United Airlines," said United Airlines Vice President of Fleet Ron Baur.

"In addition to the latest technology LEAP-1B engines from CFM International, the MAX combines advanced aerodynamics including the Advanced Technology winglets, 787-style large screen flight deck displays and the passenger preferred Boeing Sky Interior to give customers an airplane that will enhance their fleets for decades to come,” said Leverkuhn.

The 737 MAX will be 14 percent more fuel-efficient than today's most efficient Next-Generation 737s – and 20 percent better than the original Next-Generation 737s when they first entered service, Boeing said in a company press release. “The 737 is more fuel efficient than the Airbus A320 today and will be more fuel efficient than the A320neo tomorrow. Airlines operating the 737 MAX will see an eight percent operating cost per seat advantage over the A320neo.”

On track to begin final assembly in mid-2015, the 737 MAX will fly in 2016 and deliver to launch customer Southwest Airlines in the third quarter of 2017.