Boeing CEO sees passenger levels under 25% in September, pain for airlines: NBC interview

[turbinetree]

Source: Reuters

BUSINESS NEWS MAY 11, 2020 / 7:31 PM / UPDATED 6 MINUTES AGO

(Reuters) - Boeing Co (BA.N) Chief Executive Dave Calhoun does not expect passenger traffic to reach even a quarter of its levels in September, creating the need for airlines to make “adjustments” as they weather the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

In an interview with NBC to be aired on Tuesday, Calhoun said: “Traffic levels will not be back to 100%. They won’t even be back to 25%. Maybe by the end of the year we approach 50%. So there will definitely be adjustments that have to be made on the part of the airlines.”

Asked whether there might be a major U.S. carrier that has to go out of business, Calhoun said: “Yes, most likely. You know, something will happen when September comes around.”

In response to Calhoun’s comment, Boeing spokesman Gordon Johndroe said: “He was speaking to the general uncertainty in the sector, not about any one particular airline.”

Reporting by Tracy Rucinski and David Shepardson; Editing by Sandra Maler


Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-boeing-airlines/boeing-ceo-sees-passenger-levels-under-25-in-september-pain-for-airlines-nbc-interview-idUSKBN22N31M?il=0

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Place your bets.............

[MiniMe]

1. Well, saw a pic today that United is flying full planes cross country

Glad I'm not flying anywhere

[ZZenith]

2. I'll bet more than 75% of their planes are idle on the ground.

Way more.

[MiniMe]

3. But instead of flying 2 planes, they fly 1 overcrowded

Ugh

[ZZenith]

4. Do you realize how much fuel is burned during an average flight?!

[MiniMe]

5. I know, but United has it up on their web site that they are practicing proper social distancing

And then they do that. And they are saying that the middle seat is unoccupied. but that isn't what they are doing.

[ZZenith]

6. No way to board a plane without coming within six feet of someone else, really.

No way to NOT recirculate the air, either.

I think if you choose to fly you roll the dice - proper social distancing goes right out the window.

[Massacure]

11. Air recirculation isn't that big of a deal on airplanes

Most modern aircraft bypass enough air from their engines to the cabin and do a complete air change every couple of minutes.

[Polybius]

9. Then it's time that engineers figured out a better solution

We've been flying commercially for over 80 years, we should be able to fly around the world three times with all of the fuel that's used in a normal flight.

[ffr]

7. You know, MAGAts can save the industry by flying more often

It is their right and they should exercise it.

[herding cats]

8. The same for the cruise industry.

They need to book those bargain basement cruises while they can for the August reopening. Bon voyage!

[cstanleytech]

10. I wonder if this might cause some renewed interest in train travel? After all atleast on the trains

each compartments could in theory even have its own bathroom which could help in keeping people coming into contact with others to a minimum.