Resumption of 737 Max was approved, but 128 777s were suspended this time
Decline in passenger demand due to corona… ‘Strength of large airliner’ hits Boeing more
viewer
American aircraft manufacturer Boeing is in crisis as demand from the novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19) has declined, leading to a safety accident. The 737 Max, which had crashed twice, was granted permission to resume operation after 20 months, but this time, the 777 caused a fragmentary crash during operation. It is a difficult situation in a situation where the damage to profitability is inevitable due to Corona 19.
According to CNN Business on the 22nd (local time), a 777-200 airliner belonging to United Airlines suffered an engine failure immediately after take-off at Denver International Airport in Colorado on the 20th. The airliner made an emergency landing at Denver Airport safely. However, in the process, gas debris etc. fell from the air and poured down to the ground. Fortunately, there was no human injury, but the dizzying situation at the time, such as the appearance of the aircraft engine on fire and the appearance of debris falling off the roof or yard of the residential area, were conveyed through video and photos.
viewer
The engine installed on the failed passenger plane this time belongs to Pratt & Whitney. Apart from the accident, on the same day in the Netherlands, a problem occurred on a 747 freighter with Pratt & Whitney engines. The exact cause of the engine failure has not yet been determined. Considering the number of years of use of the engine, it is estimated that it is more likely a problem related to manufacturing or maintenance rather than a design problem.
Boeing has stopped operating all 128 Boeing 777s equipped with Pratt & Whitney engines. These include 69, which had been put into operation so far, and 59, which had been suspended from early due to a decrease in travel demand. Accordingly, there is also a prospect that the retirement of the old 777 could be accelerated.
Delta Air Lines (DAL) already announced in May last year that it would stop using all 18 777s in the near future. Eight of them have been used for only about 10 years, and they have a relatively short service period.
viewer
It’s not just the 737 Max and 777 that are bothering Boeing. Boeing has already said it plans to shut down its 787 plant in Washington state within a few months due to weak demand. The company expects to produce five 787 Dreamliners and two 777s or 777Xs on average per month. It is half of the level before the Corona 19 pandemic (a global pandemic).
In particular, the 787 Dreamliner is being investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as manufacturing defects found in the tail of the last year were confirmed in other parts. In addition, Boeing’s latest passenger aircraft, the 777X, is delayed in production due to problems with GE engines and reduced demand, so it will be difficult to make the first production before 2023.
In addition, Boeing is facing a more fundamental crisis as long-distance international travel is reduced due to Corona 19. For example, demand for large’widebody’ aircraft with a wide twin aisle fuselage has declined. While its rival Airbus is strong on single aisle aircraft, Boeing has been dominant in the double-aisle airliner market. Due to the large internal space of the double-passage airliner, it is mainly used for international flights, but it is unclear when the demand for international passengers reduced by Corona 19 will recover.
CNN Business said, “Boeing seemed to be breaking through its worst hurdles at the end of last year when US authorities allowed the 737 Max to resume operations in 20 months and approved the Corona 19 vaccine.” “I faced a more long-term and serious problem.”
/ Intern reporter Park Shin-won [email protected]
< 저작권자 ⓒ 서울경제, 무단 전재 및 재배포 금지 >