production issues

Aircraft shortages turn into cash bonanza for some airlines

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Aircraft shortages turn into cash bonanza for some airlines

Aircraft shortages have allowed airlines like Frontier Airlines and Wizz Air to sell new planes to leasing companies at higher prices than they paid, resulting in gains of hundreds of millions of dollars. The tight airliner market has made sale-and-leaseback transactions more attractive, with US airlines accounting for a larger share of these deals. New aircraft prices are 20% higher than pre-pandemic levels, leading to soaring lease rates. Airlines are spending 30% more on aircraft leases than before the pandemic.

Boeing whistleblower found dead of apparent suicide

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Boeing whistleblower found dead of apparent suicide

John Barnett, a former Boeing employee who had raised concerns about the company’s production issues, was found dead of an apparent suicide in South Carolina. He worked at Boeing for 32 years before leaving in 2017. Barnett died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, confirmed by the Charleston County coroner’s office. The Charleston City police are investigating his death. Boeing expressed sadness over Barnett’s passing. Barnett had been involved in a whistleblower lawsuit related to the production of the 787 Dreamliner plane. He had also spoken to media about a safety incident involving a Boeing 737 MAX 9 plane. Boeing’s safety and quality standards have faced scrutiny, leading to production curbs by U.S. regulators.