As many airlines look to Airbus to fill the metal kettle or the ever-growing need for aircraft, you’d think the French plane manufacturer would be pleased to see its American rival’s sales tanking. But Airbus CEO, Guillaume Faury is far from joyous.
"I am not happy with the problems of my competitor. They are not good for the industry as a whole.”
In a candid statement at the "Europe 2024" conference in Berlin, Guillaume Faury, CEO of Airbus, addressed “big picture” concerns regarding the ongoing tribulations of their rival, Boeing.
As captured by Reuters, Faury emphasized the collective impact of Boeing's technical setbacks on the entire airline community, “They damage the image of the entire aerospace industry.”
Boeing's recent troubles include a door plug blowout incident on a 737 MAX 9 jet during an Alaska Airlines flight in January. And subsequently, Boeing recently advised airlines operating 787 Dreamliners to inspect flight deck switches after a LATAM Airlines 787 plane experienced a sudden mid-air dive, injuring over 50 passengers.
Echoing Faury’s sentiments, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire weighed in stating, "I prefer Airbus' situation to that of Boeing.”
Time will tell where Boeing lands, but one thing is for sure, all eyes are on stakeholders to confront these technical challenges and communicate that quality and safety remain a top priority.
