Latest news with #BenMinicucci
Reuters
a day ago
- Automotive
- Reuters
Boeing rebuilding trust as airline bosses see improved jet quality
NEW DELHI, June 5 (Reuters) - Airline bosses are tentatively voicing greater confidence in Boeing's (BA.N), opens new tab ability to deliver jets at the right quality in a step towards ending years of reputational damage for the embattled planemaker. An annual summit of airline leaders in New Delhi this week struck a more optimistic tone about Boeing's recovery from overlapping safety, regulatory and industrial crises, though executives stressed Boeing still had much work left to do. "What we've seen quarter to quarter is an improvement in safety, an improvement in quality," Seattle-based Alaska Airlines (ALK.N), opens new tab CEO Ben Minicucci told Reuters at the International Air Transport Association's annual meeting. "Are they yet there? No, there's still a lot of work." In January last year, a door missing four bolts blew off a new Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX jet at 16,000 feet. The ripple effect from the incident caused a crisis throughout the aviation industry, hitting suppliers, carriers and passengers. Planemakers often have to run the gauntlet of airline criticism at IATA's annual meeting, where IATA head Willie Walsh last year urged Boeing to learn from errors that fuelled a crisis beginning with fatal crashes of two MAX jets in 2018 and 2019. One of Boeing's most vocal recent critics has been Tim Clark, president of Emirates, the largest customer for big jets like the Boeing 777 and its long-delayed successor the 777X. At his annual sit-down with reporters at the summit this year, Clark spoke more positively about getting "clearer messages" from Boeing's recently appointed leadership. He welcomed a change of style under CEO Kelly Ortberg, revealing he had never met Ortberg's ousted predecessor Dave Calhoun. "It was nice to meet the head of Boeing," he said. Clark, whose airline has 205 of the still uncertified 777X on order, suggested growing confidence from Boeing in private. "When I talk about cautious optimism, in the last few years I had seen none of that" he said. Ortberg, who took the helm last August, has said he will address safety and quality concerns and repair trust with regulators, staff and customers. Boeing customers said the measures are showing some results. While Boeing is still trying to ramp up production, there have been improvements in quality and visibility of deliveries. "There is still further to go but it is definitely an improving story," said Peter Barrett, CEO of lessor SMBC Aviation, a major leasing company and Boeing customer. Few are taking Boeing's recovery solely on trust. Alaska Airlines has sent its own quality inspectors to Boeing's production lines and commissioned a quarterly audit. Alaska's Minicucci said Boeing had put in a "very diligent, deliberate process" to reduce out-of-sequence work, a disruption to normal factory flows blamed in part for the oversight of the missing bolts. He noted that Ortberg, who has moved to Seattle to be closer to the biggest jet plants, and Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Stephanie Pope, appointed last March, regularly tour factories. "They're getting out there, they're walking the floor, they're feeling what's going on," Minicucci said. "I think that's different to what happened in the past." Other customers have noted progress, despite a bruising strike last year which halted most of Boeing's jet production. United Airlines (UAL.O), opens new tab CEO Scott Kirby, who took part in a revolt by U.S. airlines that triggered Calhoun's exit after the Alaska incident, said last week Boeing had "turned the corner". Still, few airline chiefs have any illusions about the scale of turnaround needed to restore the status of Boeing factories. "When I was there last year... I thought this is going nowhere at this rate," Clark said, adding he would return this year to see for himself the progress made since then. Boeing declined to comment on specific airline opinions. Nor does the brighter public tone mean airlines will necessarily ease pressure in private as they wait for new jets. But several airline executives at the IATA event acknowledged that Boeing had passed one key test of support at the industry's biggest annual podium, as it slowly stabilises production. "We have got a lot of work still to do (but) there is a lot of positivity from customers on our performance in the first five months of the year," Boeing Senior Vice President of Commercial Sales Brad McMullen said. It now faces a decisive test as regulators review higher output after Boeing hit a temporary ceiling of 38 MAX jets a month. It also seeks certification of models including the 777X. The acting head of the Federal Aviation Administration said on Wednesday higher output would not happen straightaway. Originally due to receive the 777X in 2020, Clark held out little hope of getting the upgraded jet before IATA meets again in June next year. Boeing has said it is now due in 2026. "The important thing is they get it out and it's certified to the rigours of the new Boeing: the new approach to building aircraft, safety of operation and all the quality controls that they were having difficulties with prior to that," Clark said.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Alaska Airlines to launch flights to Rome next year
Alaska Airlines is making its Europe debut with the launch of nonstop flights to Rome next year. The Seattle-based carrier will operate four weekly flights to and from its Pacific Northwest hub to the popular Italian city starting in May 2026. Flights from Seattle-Tacoma Internatinal Airport and Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport will go on sale in the fall. The airline says it selected Rome as its first European destination because it's one of the 'most requested' destinations among its reward members. This will be the third long-haul international route Alaska will launch from its Seattle home base since acquiring Hawaiian Airlines and its fleet of long-haul jets in 2024. According to Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci, the carrier plans to expand its global reach, intending to fly to 12 international destinations on multiple continents by 2030. Last month, Alaska launched its inaugural flights to Tokyo's Narita International Airport. Flights to Seoul, South Korea, are up next, which start on Sept. 12. The new Seattle-Rome route will also double as the launch for Alaska's new flagship international Dreamliner experience on board the new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Jets, which is expected to include all-new business-class suites and amenities. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Axios
3 days ago
- Business
- Axios
Sea-Tac expands global reach with nonstop flight to Rome
A slew of new nonstop routes around the world, including one to Rome, is turning SEA into a true global gateway. Why it matters: Seattle is quickly shedding its status as a secondary international hub with the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport positioning itself as a serious player in the global aviation network. Plus: Seattleites love to travel! Driving the news: Alaska Airlines announced plans this week to launch nonstop service from Seattle to Rome — the first direct flight between the Emerald City and the Eternal City and the airline's first transatlantic route. The route will begin in May 2026 and operate four times a week aboard Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. Rome is among the most-requested European destinations by Alaska Mileage Plan members, according to the Seattle-based carrier. It is also the largest in Europe without nonstop service from Seattle. Also, Edelweiss Air began nonstop service to Zurich on Monday, and SAS started nonstop service to Copenhagen last month. Zoom in: Alaska CEO Ben Minicucci, the son of Italian immigrants, called the Rome route "a dream come true." "Our guests have been asking for an easy way to get to Italy for years," he said in a written statement. The big picture: Sea-Tac has added new international service over the past two years, including flights to Taipei, Beijing and Chongqing, Munich, Manila, Liberia, Costa Rica, Toronto, and Tokyo, per the airport. By the numbers: As of this month, Sea-Tac is offering nonstop flights to 36 international destinations, according to spokesperson Perry Cooper of the Port of Seattle. That's up from 26 destinations in 2019. Between the lines: The Rome announcement marks the third new intercontinental destination unveiled by Alaska in the last year. The move is part of a broader expansion strategy following the Seattle-based carrier's acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines' wide-body aircraft, per Alaska. Other European destinations being considered by Alaska include London, Paris, and Berlin.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Alaska Airlines reveals its first European destination
Alaska Airlines is making its first foray into the European travel market, announcing Tuesday it will launch new flights to and from Rome, Italy, beginning in May 2026. The introduction of the new route marks the first time travelers will be able to fly nonstop from the airline's hub in Seattle, Washington, to Italy on any airline, according to Alaska Air. Customers will fly on Boeing 787-9 aircraft the carrier obtained when it merged with Hawaiian Airlines in 2023. The new route is part of Alaska Air's push to expand its global reach. The airline intends to serve 12 global destinations on multiple continents by 2030, CEO Ben Minicucci told CBS News last month. Alaska Air will operate four weekly flights to Rome traveling in each direction. Flights to Rome will leave Seattle at 6 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, arriving in the Italian capital at 1:45 p.m. local time the next day. Flights from Rome to Seattle will depart Italy at 3:45 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, arriving in Seattle at 6 p.m. Tickets will go on sale beginning in the fall. The airline said it selected Rome as its first European destination because it's one of the "most-requested" destinations among its reward members. January 6 defendant refuses Trump's pardon New developments in search for Madeleine McCann, who went missing over 18 years ago Everything we know about the Boulder attack on Israeli hostage march
CBS News
3 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Alaska Airlines announces Rome as its first European destination
Alaska Airlines is making its first foray into the European travel market, announcing Tuesday it will launch new flights to and from Rome, Italy, beginning in May 2026. The introduction of the new route marks the first time travelers will be able to fly nonstop from the airline's hub in Seattle, Washington, to Italy on any airline, according to Alaska Air. Customers will fly on Boeing 787-9 aircraft the carrier obtained when it merged with Hawaiian Airlines in 2023. The new route is part of Alaska Air's push to expand its global reach. The airline intends to serve 12 global destinations on multiple continents by 2030, CEO Ben Minicucci told CBS News last month. Alaska Air will operate four weekly flights to Rome traveling in each direction. Flights to Rome will leave Seattle at 6 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, arriving in the Italian capital at 1:45 p.m. local time the next day. Flights from Rome to Seattle will depart Italy at 3:45 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, arriving in Seattle at 6 p.m. Tickets will go on sale beginning in the fall. The airline said it selected Rome as its first European destination because it's one of the "most-requested" destinations among its reward members.
