For the first time since 1997 and the takeover, that year, of the aircraft manufacturer McDonnell Douglas, Boeing announced, on Wednesday, January 29, a loss of $ 636 million in 2019 (about 577 million euros). An impressive setback: in 2018, the American aircraft manufacturer recorded a profit of $ 10.5 billion.
The crash of the American aircraft manufacturer is the direct result of the forced immobilization of the medium-haul 737 MAX since March 2019, after two air disasters that killed 346 passengers and crew. In 2019, sales were cut by $ 25 billion to $ 76.6 billion, compared to more than $ 101 billion the previous year. The fault of an order book also in the red with a negative balance of 87 aircraft compared to 2018. The setbacks which did not prevent Boeing from paying $ 4.36 billion in dividends to its shareholders.
An astronomical invoice
Nailed to the ground for ten months, the 737 MAX, the group's bestseller ordered over 5,000 copies, hit the aircraft manufacturer in the portfolio. According to the latter, the bill now reaches astronomical sums: 18.4 billion dollars, which is exactly double what had been forecast before. Half of this amount should be used to compensate airlines. The rest will be used to absorb the losses linked to the maintenance of MAX production, lowered to 42 copies per month, before being completely interrupted on 1st January. Finally, the aircraft manufacturer will also put its hand in the pocket to limit the damage among its chain of equipment manufacturers and subcontractors. In addition, he will have to pay substantial damages to compensate the relatives and families of the victims of the two crashes.
But the 737 MAX crisis is still far from over, and the cost threatens to be much higher for Boeing. Up to $ 25 billion, some financial analysts predict. Because the aircraft manufacturer is still not master of the return schedule of its medium-haul flight. Expected in the spring, the MAX takeoff is now deferred to the second half of 2020. Each month that passes costs the American an additional $ 1 billion. "I think we can meet these deadlines", tried to temper, Wednesday, David Calhoun, the new CEO of the Chicago group.
