- Robert Isom, CEO of American Airlines, said the company has been battling Boeing for years.
- “I look forward to the day when they’re not just a nuisance,” he told CNBC.
- He said he hoped Boeing would be able to “deliver quality airplanes on time.”
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom says his carrier has been battling plane maker Boeing for years.
During Thursday an interview on CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” Isom was asked about it ongoing Boeing strikeand whether it would affect American Airlines’ capacity.
“We will be able to deliver the capacity that we said we would, by the end of this year,” Isom told CNBC’s Phil LeBeau. “For Boeing — just, I look forward to the day when it’s not just a distraction. We’ve been fighting them for the last five years.”
However, Isom said American Airlines is not “highly dependent on Boeing deliveries.” He also said he remains confident that American Airlines “will be able to deliver and manage our business, regardless of what happens at Boeing.”
“We need Boeing to be strong, and that’s what I told Kelly,” Isom said of Boeing’s new CEO, Kelly Ortberg.
“At the end of the day, we need them to deliver quality airplanes on time, and I’ll welcome that phone call when Boeing says, ‘We’re going to do it,'” he added.
In 2023, American Airlines had a fleet of nearly 500 Boeing aircraft, including 737s777s and 787s. And in March orders for 85 new Boeing 737 Max 10 aircraft.
Isom’s interview with CNBC came shortly after American Airlines reported a third-quarter loss in its quarter earnings on Thursday. The company reported revenue of $13.6 billion but a net loss of $149 million.
Boeing had a heavy pair of quarters. On Wednesday, the aircraft manufacturer reported a a third-quarter loss of $6.1 billion. This compares with a loss of $1.44 billion in the previous quarter.
The union labor strike began on September 13 after the staff rejected the proposal to raise wages by 25% over four yearsand asked for 40%.
And on Wednesday, Boeing workers rejected a proposal for a 35% pay increase over four years.
The strike forced most of Boeing’s production to halt for more than five weeks.
But Boeing chief Ortberg, who took the reins in August, said he remains confident in the company the ability to turn things around.
“It will take time for Boeing to return to its former heritage, but with the right focus and culture, we can once again be an iconic company and leader in the aerospace world,” Ortberg said in a memo to staff Wednesday.
Representatives for Boeing and American Airlines did not respond to Business Insider’s after-hours requests for comment.