US Limits Boeing 737 Max Production, Poses Challenges for Air India Express and Akasa Air

The United States’ aviation regulator has put an end to the production expansion of the controversial Boeing 737 Max aircraft, which could have significant implications for major Indian airlines like Air India Express and Akasa Air.

Several Indian aviation companies, including Air India Express, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air, have already placed orders for the Boeing 737 Max aircraft, but the manufacturing defects in the passenger planes could lead to delays of several months, if not an entire year.

Boeing aircraft have been under intense scrutiny over the quality of its manufacturing and machine parts following a recent incident in which a panel of the plane blew out mid-air during an Alaska Airlines flight. This near-catastrophe prompted thorough checks and a probe into the manufacturing of the aircraft.

The Boeing 737 Max passenger planes have a history of reporting minor problems in the panels and other manufacturing defects. The aircraft was previously taken out of circulation after two crashes in 2018 and 2019 resulted in over 340 casualties.

The US aviation regulator, Federal Aviation Administration, stated, “We will not agree to any request from Boeing for an expansion in production or approve additional production lines for the 737 MAX until we are satisfied that the quality control issues uncovered during this process are resolved.”

Just before the announcement from the FAA, Indian airlines like Air India Express, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air had placed orders for hundreds of Boeing 737 Max passenger aircraft. Now, it is expected that the delivery of these orders will be delayed, impacting the expansion plans for these airlines.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in India recently inspected all the Boeing 737 Max aircraft in circulation and raised safety concerns. The FAA’s decision regarding the Boeing aircraft could have unpredictable implications for Indian airlines, particularly given the safety issues associated with the aircraft.