Over an extended period, we have witnessed what I consider as corporate transgressions and betrayal of the public trust by Boeing Corporation. If they were making, say, desk chairs, I wouldn't be concerned or write an article about it.
However, Boeing’s willingness to brazenly cut corners in production, quality control, and short-shrift product safety has resulted in lost lives, and others may be in jeopardy. Passengers of Boeing aircraft have undoubtedly questioned their own personal security while soaring 40,000 feet above the earth.
The issue has called into question and deepened scrutiny of U.S. aircraft manufacturing worldwide as people across the globe fly in Boeing airplanes. With the market for commercial aircraft manufacture now essentially Boeing and French-based Airbus, neither the U.S. nor the world can afford to lose Boeing.
I call the entire episode a matter of mistrust. It affects the traveling public and our own travel and tourism industry worldwide. How can any of us feel comfortable and confident traveling in an airplane made by a company that admittedly puts corporate and shareholder profits far ahead of public safety? How many may have canceled travel plans because they were afraid to fly?
Senators Call for Accountability and Schedule a Federal Hearing
Recently, Meeting News featured an article noting that U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (Massachusetts) and Richard Blumenthal (Connecticut) have asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to take tougher action against Boeing executives by holding them criminally accountable for safety issues that have impacted its airplanes. They held that the DOJ’s past efforts to effect change at Boeing have failed "because of its continued refusal to criminally prosecute responsible individuals."
"For too long, corporate executives have routinely escaped prosecution for criminal misconduct. This coddling comes at the expense of customer and worker safety, and it must end," the senators wrote. "We, therefore, urge you to carefully review the behavior and potential culpability of Boeing's executives and hold criminally accountable any individuals that have promoted a culture at the company that disregards passenger safety in violation of federal laws and regulations."
Boeing declined by email to comment.
The senators' letter came ahead of a federal hearing over Boeing's agreement to plead guilty to conspiracy in connection with the 737 Max jetliner, two of which crashed, killing 346 people in 2018 in Indonesia and in 2019 in Ethiopia.
Families of some of the passengers killed in the crashes object to the agreement. They want to put Boeing on trial, where it could face tougher punishment. Relatives of the victims and their lawyers have called a proposed settlement a sweetheart deal that fails to consider the loss of so many lives.
Some lawyers have argued that the Justice Department treated Boeing gently because the company is a big government contractor. The agreement calls for Boeing to pay a fine of at least $243.6 million, invest $455 million in compliance and safety programs, and be placed on probation for three years.
Other Nagging Issues Continue
Boeing — which just settled after a several-week-long strike of 33,000 machinists — has faced a series of additional safety concerns in the past year after addressing the problems with the 737 Max.
Recently, federal safety investigators issued urgent recommendations to Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration after determining that the pedals that pilots use to steer 737 Max jetliners on runways can become jammed because moisture can leak into a rudder assembly and freeze.
Earlier this year, a door plug blew off a 737 Max minutes after an Alaska Airlines flight took off from Portland, Oregon, leaving a gaping hole in the plane and creating decompression so violent that it blew open the cockpit door and tore off the copilot's headset. The plug had been opened at a Boeing factory to let workers fix damaged rivets, but bolts that helped secure the panel were not replaced when the plug was closed. Luckily, there were no major injuries, and the pilots safely returned to Portland.
According to the article, Boeing’s failures have impacted tourism, involving a complex web of economic and psychological factors.
The immediate effects are reduced airline capacity and traveler confidence, which directly influence tourism flow and economic benefits.
Long-term effects include changes in consumer behavior and increased operational costs for airlines, ultimately affecting the flying public and further altering the dynamics of global tourism.
And, just in per Meetings & Conventions, Southwest Airlines is offering airport workers buyouts and extended leaves of absence to avoid "overstaffing in certain locations," which it blames on a shortage of new planes from Boeing. While the airline says cuts have been planned, it also said in a statement that "Southwest has reduced overall capacity to meet demand with a constrained fleet due to aircraft delivery delays." It reports that they originally expected about 85 new Boeing 737 jets this year but cut that to 20 because of production problems at Boeing that began after the panel blowout.
The tourism industry must navigate these challenges to sustain growth and stability in the face of such significant disruptions. An analysis by Morningstar DBRS suggests that Boeing’s current safety issues and production limitations could “persist for years,” complicating airline operations and leading to higher airfares for travelers.
Trust is of the Utmost Importance
As a travel industry, we must recognize that the behaviors of one large (and maybe of smaller) company can have ripple economic and psychological effects on many others involved, most notably the traveling public and workers.
We need to ensure that whatever products we offer are safe and do not put us in harm's way. That when a problem is discovered, it is quickly and correctly fixed, or that any others are not ignored. The cost after the fact will be much more significant in terms of dollars, reputation, and lives.
The public must be assured that they can trust who we are and what they purchase from us.
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