The latest Boeing 737 MAX aircraft electrical issues, which resulted in certain 737 MAX aircraft temporary groundings, took a toll on the manufacturer’s deliveries as well.
During the analyst call on April 28, 2021, Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun warned analysts that April 2021 deliveries would be “very light” because of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft latest electrical problems.
In April 2021, Boeing delivered 17 aircraft. Notably, those included nine Boeing 787 aircraft, including eight Boeing 787-9s: three to lessor Air Lease, two to Japan Airlines (JAL), one to All Nippon Airways (ANA), and one to Atlantis Aviation. One Boeing 787-8 was delivered to American Airlines (A1G) (AAL).
Boeing’s deliveries also included one Boeing 767-300F aircraft for FedEx Express, two Boeing 777 freighters to DHL, one Boeing 767 military tanker for the US Air Force.
Within a month, the company delivered only four Boeing 737 MAX aircraft: one for Air Lease and three for Southwest Airlines (LUV).
On April 30, 2021, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an Airworthiness Directive requiring Boeing to address an “unsafe condition” of certain Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. The move came after Boeing addressed potential electric issues to 16 737 MAX operators earlier in April 2021.
The investigation of certain Boeing 737 MAX aircraft identified insufficient bonding of certain “metallic support panel assemblies installed in two areas of the flight deck, which affects the electrical grounding of installed equipment”.
Earlier in April 2021, following Boeing’s briefing on certain 737 MAX aircraft electrical issues, operators voluntarily grounded some of their aircraft awaiting further notice from Boeing.
“We are finalizing the plans and documentation with the FAA to outline the process required for operators to return their airplanes to service,” Calhoun said during the analyst call on April 28, 2021.
