Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg told the US Senate Commerce Committee on April 2, 2025, that the company is emphasising safety and an improved culture over speed.
Ortberg said the company's internal reporting channel — ‘speak up’ — has had three times the number of reports over the last year compared to prior years.
“People are feeling comfortable to use the system,” said Ortberg to the senate.
Boeing's culture had come under scrutiny following a series of issues — including the well-documented incident on an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX flight in January last year.
“We still have culture work to do,” he continued. “There are probably people in the organisation who are not comfortable about using the system and we continue to work on that to make sure everyone feels comfortable using it.”
The system was also improved for ease of use, which Ortberg said has further supported the uptake of its usage.
Ortberg further told senators that the company is “not pressuring the team to go fast” despite a promised ramp up this year. The company is aiming to reach a production rate of 38 per month for its 737 MAX aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) capped the US manufacturer's production of the aircraft family at 38 per month after the Alaska Airlines incident. During the hearing, Ortberg did not give a detailed timeline for this ramp up. However, once the company reaches and sustains a 38 per month production rate, it will apply for a cap increase to 42 per month.
Furthermore, Ortberg expressed concern over Trump's tariff strategy. He cautioned that these tariffs could escalate into a potential trade war, hindering Boeing's ability to export its commercial airplanes. He emphasised that 80% of Boeing's planes are sold internationally, highlighting the importance of free trade for the company's operations.
