Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr expressed frustration over recent issues at Boeing, describing them as “extremely annoying,” yet he remains optimistic about the aircraft manufacturer’s recovery.
In a discussion with Neue Zuercher Zeitung in Switzerland, Spohr addressed the setbacks at Boeing, including a significant incident involving an Alaska Airlines door malfunction, which led to a reduction in aircraft production.
“These setbacks are highly disruptive and are costing us significantly, but I am confident that Boeing will resolve these issues. It’s crucial for the industry to have two strong competitors, and it’s in everyone’s best interest for Boeing to return to building top-quality aircraft more dependably,” he stated.
Despite concerns from some passengers about flying on Boeing planes, Spohr downplayed these fears, highlighting the aviation sector’s superior safety record.
“The aviation industry is the safest mode of transportation, with around 30,000 flights daily, half of which involve Boeing aircraft,” he noted.
Spohr further mentioned that Lufthansa supervises the manufacturing of each aircraft, whether from Boeing or Airbus, to ensure compliance with the airline’s high standards.
He also addressed the potential emergence of Chinese plane makers, stating that Lufthansa would not consider purchasing Chinese-made aircraft in the near future due to their rigorous safety criteria.
“Given our strict safety standards, purchasing planes from China doesn’t seem feasible at the moment,” he commented.
Spohr also highlighted that Lufthansa is currently incorporating new aircraft into its fleet at an unprecedented rate, with a new plane arriving every 10 days and a new long-haul jet every month.
“This is an unprecedented pace of fleet expansion,” Spohr remarked.
