CEO of United Airlines encouraged after meeting with new Boeing boss

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby speaks out after meeting with Boeing’s new CEO Kelly Ortberg. After the two met for lunch earlier this week, Kirby said he would “new trust” that the aircraft manufacturer is on the right track.

The Chicago-based airline is a major operator of Boeing aircraft, currently operating nearly 500 Boeing-designed narrow-body aircraft and has several hundred more on order.

“Boeing is on the right track”

Kirby shared his comments in a LinkedIn post on Thursday. The executive explained that some might be surprised at how quickly Boeing’s recovery will be under Ortberg’s leadership.

“Earlier this week, I had lunch with Kelly Ortberg, Boeing’s newly appointed president and CEO. Not only was I encouraged by what I heard, but I left the company with renewed confidence that Boeing is on the right track and will recover faster than most expect.”

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Boeing has been trying to repair its reputation for several years. Simple Flying previously reported that the company planned to plead guilty to charges related to the fatal 737 MAX 8 crashes in 2018 and 2019. The crashes, which killed 346 people, resulted in the aircraft type being grounded for over a year. Because the manufacturer was able to fix the flight control problem that caused the crashes and get the plane back in the air, it later had to face another grounding.

Photo: Boeing

Earlier this year, an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 experienced a door lock that could have been fatal had the plane been flying at higher altitudes. The incident rocked the industry and prompted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to ground the variant for more than seven months. Investigations found that Boeing had made compromises in manufacturing the plane, while whistleblowers alleged the company cut corners and threatened retaliation.

Finance background vs. engineering background

Boeing’s former CEO Dave Calhoun faced intense criticism for his leadership of the company – even some family members of victims of the deadly 737 MAX crashes called him a criminal. The ex-CEO, who took on the role with a background in finance, was replaced by Ortberg, who has a background in engineering.

“His engineering background at Rockwell Collins, combined with his instinct to be close to his front teams in Seattle, make for a winning combination,” Kirby wrote. “It was clear from our conversation that he is fully committed to the cause, understands the cultural changes necessary to turn things around, and listens to his employees and customers.”

Photo: cpaulfell | Shutterstock

Kirby is not the only one encouraged by Ortberg’s background and new location. Brian Knowles, an attorney representing more than a dozen current and former employees of the aircraft manufacturer, said Ortberg will be a “practical approach” with his decision to work in Boeing’s offices in Seattle rather than at the company’s headquarters across the country in Virginia.

“Kelly is the right leader”

Ortberg has made a flying start since being named CEO last week, recently visiting Spirit AeroSystems’ facilities in Wichita, Kansas. Calhoun will remain with Boeing as a special adviser to the board of directors until spring of next year.

“Boeing’s more than 170,000 employees have the expertise, drive and commitment to make the company one of the best and most important brands in the world again,” explained Kirby. “And Kelly is the right leader to lead them there.”

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