The heads of major U.S. airlines are seeking a meeting with Boeing to discuss the aircraft manufacturer's plan for addressing quality-control issues that have come to light following an incident involving an Alaska Airlines jetliner in January. The meeting is expected to occur next week, with Boeing likely to be represented by its chairman and other board members, rather than CEO David Calhoun. The request for the meeting was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.
Boeing, United Airlines, American Airlines, and Southwest have refrained from providing comments on the matter. However, Southwest Airlines did mention that they maintain regular communication with Boeing, although the specifics of the upcoming meeting were not disclosed. Alaska Airlines has yet to respond to inquiries regarding the meeting.
Airline CEOs have expressed their frustration with Boeing's manufacturing challenges, which have resulted in delayed aircraft deliveries. Southwest Airlines, which exclusively operates Boeing aircraft, recently announced a reduction in its expected new plane deliveries for the year, impacting its flight schedule.
