Delta Air Lines Inc. CEO Ed Bastian has recently revealed that the delivery of Boeing Co.’s 737 Max 10 aircraft could be delayed until 2027. This news comes as a blow to Delta, which had initially expected to receive the planes in 2025, with the possibility of a delay until late 2025. However, Bastian now anticipates a further delay of one or two years.
“We were already anticipating if it came in ‘25, it’d be late in the year,” CEO Bastian said in an interview. “My guess is it will be another year or two beyond that.”
Delta had planned to integrate the largest Max model into its domestic network, but the airline has been satisfied with the Airbus SE A321neo single-aisle planes it has been receiving. This delay is occurring amid Boeing’s ongoing safety and criminal reviews, triggered by incidents such as a fuselage blowout during an Alaska Airlines flight in January.
United Airlines Holdings had previously removed the Max 10 from its fleet plan due to the extended delays and is in discussions to switch to another Max variant or secure production slots from Airbus. Bastian emphasized that since Delta has not yet received the Max, it is not an integral part of their fleet.
Boeing’s 737 Max series has been under intense scrutiny following a series of safety incidents, leading to a lack of trust among passengers and some choosing to boycott the aircraft altogether. Additionally, Boeing recently claimed that critical records were missing after a 737 MAX 9 crisis, raising further questions about the company’s safety and quality control standards.
This delay in the delivery of the 737 Max 10 aircraft is significant for Delta and the aviation industry as a whole, highlighting the challenges and uncertainties faced by airlines and manufacturers in the current environment. The impact of these delays on Delta’s operations and future plans remains to be seen, but it underscores the importance of maintaining safety and reliability in the aviation industry.
