This is a new blow for the group, to put it mildly. Incidents are multiplying, as are alerts from the FAA (the US aviation authority). In addition to the company's low share price, passenger safety is now at stake.

Instead of taking a long, hard look at itself, Boeing tends to blame its supplier and former subsidiary, Spirit AeroSystems. Flouting basic rules of decency, the group also recently asked the FAA to exempt its latest 737 model from certain safety standards until May 2026, so that it could continue to deliver.

Among the consequences of the aircraft manufacturer's setbacks, we have the deterioration of its relationship with airlines and the creation of a website that allows passengers to check whether they are about to travel on a 737, the group's best-selling model. Here again, there's no certainty for travelers, as airlines are free to replace aircraft scheduled for certain routes at the last minute.

This is what happens when a group gives priority to financial aspects and shareholder returns, to the detriment of innovation and safety. By way of example, David Calhoun, Group CEO and member of the Board of Directors since 2009, has received $65 million in total compensation and incentives since taking over in 2020. He is also the one who decided to move the group's headquarters close to Washington, to facilitate his lobbying with decision-makers.

While competitor Airbus is gaining increasing market share, Boeing hasn't made a profit since 2018, and its reputation is sinking into the abyss. 

Drawing by Amandine Victor