(CHICAGO) Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun promised the company would put the right number of parts in its planes, but he added ominously, “It’s gonna cost ya.”
Calhoun’s remarks come after a wheel fell off a United Airlines 777 on takeoff in LA, and doors have been coming off 737s in flight.
“It costs money to put the proper amount of bolts in a door, as well on wheels, so yeah, I’m willing to have the company do that, but don’t for a New York minute think that’s going to be cheap,” Calhoun said during an investor call.
“We cut corners because we’re trying to be competitive in the airliner market,” he continued. “Okay, so we cut a little too much. But our customers were getting bargain rates on new planes and we weren’t hearing any complaints. A couple of missteps, though, and suddenly everyone’s a critic.
“So yeah, you’ll get a safer, more airworthy plane, but you’re not gonna get it for free,” Calhoun said. “Passengers can expect to start paying more for flights starting now.”
Asked if they would pay a few bucks more for a ticket so as not to get sucked out of a 737 in mid-flight and be able to land safely, most passengers said they were just fine with added expense.
