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American Airlines could get delivery of long-awaited 787 jets from aircraft manufacturer Boeing this week after nearly two years of production problems.
The Federal Aviation Administration said Monday that it has given Boeing clearance to start delivering the jets again, the latest in a string of production problems that have hindered some of the airplane maker’s signature aircraft lines.
“Boeing has made the necessary changes to ensure that the 787 Dreamliner meets all certification standards,” an FAA spokesperson said in a statement. “The FAA will inspect each aircraft before an airworthiness certificate is issued and cleared for delivery. We expect deliveries to resume in the coming days.”
The FAA and Boeing halted delivery of the jets in 2020 after finding gaps between the panels in the fuselage and then later other problems, including the pressurization bulkhead at the front of the plane and fasteners that were using the wrong kinds of metals that did not meet FAA standards.
Boeing has 120 of the 787 planes on backorder with airlines across the globe waiting for their jets. The 787 delays came just months after Boeing resumed delivery of its workhorse narrow-body 737 Max jets after a scandal rocked the company following the crash of two jets in 2018 and 2019. The 737 Max scandal tarnished the reputation of both Boeing, which was blamed for cutting corners on safety to pursue profits, and the FAA, which approved the jets despite safety flaws.
Issues with the 787 started in 2020 when small gaps were found between panels of the fuselage made of carbon composite material. That prompted inspections that turned up problems with a pressurization bulkhead at the front of the plane.
Boeing also had to replace titanium parts, including fasteners, after it was discovered that the Italian supplier used alloys that did not meet FAA standards.
It could provide much-needed relief for American Airlines after it cut hundreds of long-haul flights to Europe and Asia after Boeing failed to deliver more than a dozen jets to American Airlines. American Airlines also blamed the delay of a planned route between DFW International Airport and Tel Aviv, Israel, on a shortage of 787 jets and that route was finally canceled in May due to “soft demand.”
Fort Worth-based American Airlines expects to get as many as nine Boeing 787-800 jets this year, including two in August, Chief Financial Officer Derek Kerr said during the company’s second-quarter earnings call in July. He said the airline doesn’t have the new 787 jets slated for flying until November.
“American expects to receive its first Boeing 787-8 delivery of 2022 as early as Wednesday, Aug. 10,” American Airlines spokeswoman Andra Koos said.
Approval for Boeing to resume jet deliveries came after FAA Acting Administrator Billy Nolen and safety inspectors visited Boeing leaders at the company’s manufacturing plant in South Carolina. Boeing officials talked about plans to improve manufacturing quality and for workers to meet with regulators to ensure compliance with federal rules.
American Airlines has 43 of the 787 Dreamliner jets on order, but it has recently swapped out some 787 orders in favor of getting 737 Max jets earlier.