Only a few weeks after the 737 MAX jet was finally cleared to resume flying after an hiatus of almost two years, prompted by safety concerns, Boeing is facing another “public-relations nightmare”, says Alan Tovey in The Daily Telegraph. The latest incident comes after one of its Boeing 777 jets was forced to make an emergency landing when an engine burst into flames, leading to “debris being scattered far and wide on the ground”. Regulators have insisted that all 128 of the 777s with the type of engine that failed be temporarily grounded and inspected.
Don’t panic, says Jon Sindreu in The Wall Street Journal. While this is “more unwelcome publicity” for an “already battered US aerospace industry”, it isn’t “another 737 MAX debacle”. The problem is likely to affect “only a small subset of the global fleet”. Only 8.3% of Boeing 777s use the engine in question, which is made by Pratt & Whitney (part of Raytheon). And the affected 777s are the kind of “big, old jets” that airlines have kept in storage in the pandemic, with less than half of them in use.
While the latest problems are unlikely to prove a threat to Boeing’s survival, they are still a “distraction” at a time when the sector is being “crushed” by Covid-19, says Lauren Silva Laughlin on Breakingviews.
Subscribe to MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE
Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
The problems underline how the attempt to copy General Electric’s focus on short-term financial performance has hampered its long-term prospects. The strategy drove its stock price to new highs under previous CEO Dennis Muilenburg, but these gains have since been wiped out.
-
Review: Trasierra – a yoga retreat in the Spanish hillsFlora Connell joins a yoga retreat at Trasierra, in the Sierra Morena mountains north of Seville
-
How much should I have in emergency savings?When your boiler breaks or your car won’t start, you can find yourself paying a hefty bill. How much should you have in emergency savings to cover unexpected costs?
-
Why CEOs deserve a pay riseOpinion The CEOs of big companies often come under fire for being grossly overpaid. But the truth, as per some economists, is the opposite. Do they merit a pay rise?
-
Rolls-Royce stock jumps 15% – could it climb further?Aircraft-engine group Rolls-Royce’s CEO has been hailed as a hero for spearheading the firm’s recovery. And the future looks bright, says Matthew Partridge
-
The power of private marketsInterview Helen Steers, co-manager of the Pantheon International investment trust, tells MoneyWeek about the vast array of compelling opportunities in private equity
-
Vertex Pharmaceuticals is an uncommon opportunity in rare diseasesVertex Pharmaceuticals operates in a profitable subsector and is poised for further success
-
Global investors have overlooked these top tips in emerging marketsOpinion Chris Tennant, co-portfolio manager of Fidelity Emerging Markets, picks three attractive companies in emerging markets
-
King Coal has not been dethroned yet — should you buy?The demand for coal is only growing, yet investors don’t seem to want to take advantage of the opportunity, says Rupert Hargreaves
-
It’s time to start buying Europe again, says Merryn Somerset WebbOpinion Europe's stocks are cheap and the economic backdrop is starting to look cheerier, says Merryn Somerset Webb
-
Prosus to buy Just Eat for €4.1 billion as takeaway boom fadesFood-delivery platform Just Eat has been gobbled up by a Dutch rival. Now there could be further consolidation in the sector
