Boeing is telling airlines they will receive fewer 737 Max jets than expected this year, forcing them to trim schedules and raising the prospect of higher fares during the busy summer travel season.
Warnings have piled up from carriers in the US and Europe of fewer of the shorter-haul aircraft than they had expected this year, an unwelcome surprise that is driving up labour costs and keeping older aircraft flying.
Boeing has been building fewer of 737 Maxes this year after a door panel blew out from one of the planes during an Alaska Airlines flight in January. The company this week reported burning almost $4bn in cash in the first quarter as production rates slowed.