"Greater pressure"

Airbus: Boeing problems could weigh on the industry

From the perspective of competitor Airbus, the problems at US aircraft manufacturer Boeing could impact the entire industry.

(Bild: AFP)

The problems at US aircraft manufacturer Boeing could put pressure on the entire industry, according to competitor Airbus. "Boeing's problems could cause more people to question how safe aviation actually is," Christian Scherer, head of civil aircraft construction at the European company, told Wirtschaftswoche. This casts "a shadow over the entire industry".

According to Scherer, it is now more difficult to certify new aircraft. "There is greater pressure from all observers, including the supervisory authorities."

Airbus is not benefiting
Scherer disagreed with the assumption that Airbus is benefiting from the difficulties of its biggest competitor. Prices for aircraft were rising because demand was greater than supply.

In an incident at the beginning of the year, an almost new Boeing 737-9 Max operated by Alaska Airlines lost a fuselage fragment during a climb. Since the incident, Boeing has been under increased pressure to improve quality controls.

The crashes of two 737-Max aircraft in October 2018 and March 2019 claimed the lives of 346 people. According to investigations, one of the causes of the accidents was the aircraft's software.