Boeing stops purchasing aluminium from Russia overlooking delivery issues

Boeing declared that it has stopped buying aluminium from Vladimir’s Russia due to the ongoing crisis in Russia and Ukraine. This is the second time Boeing has halted its sourcing of crucial materials from Russia. The company was positive about sourcing aluminium for its components from all around the world, in fact, the USA.

Boeing shut down all the Russian offices after curtailing the supply of aluminium components and spare parts to Russia-based Boeing planes, as a reply to Putin’s aggressive invasion of Ukraine.

The company in a statement claimed: “Boeing suspended purchasing aluminium from Russia in March, as we suspended major operations in Russia.”

Among other non-cooperative measures, the company has also refrained from buying titanium from the Russian metals head VSMPO-AVISMA.

The company very skilfully uses both aluminium and titanium to create components such as plates and sheets which are later forged or extruded to gain the desired shape to make Boeing planes.  

Rusal alone contributed 5.9 per cent of total aluminium produced globally in 2019 which makes Russia quite a large aluminium store-house, as reported by the company.

This new advancement is a boon coupled with several delayed delivery issues the company is already facing because models including 787 Dreamliner and the 737 MAX have yet not been completely mended for take-off.  

The 737 Max has had delayed deliveries owing to shortage of labour and components. During March there was a sudden crunch in the availability of foam which meant Boeing’s Renton production line was ultimately storing unfinished cargo bays.

Many other reputable airline brands have criticized Boeing’s behaviour. The CEO of Ryanair, Michael O'Leary declared on Wednesday that he was about to meet Boeing executives in Seattle to discuss the delays. Ryanair is Europe’s biggest aviation brand with the highest passenger numbers on board.

Until now, Ryanair has received only 73 of the 210 737 Max planes that were ordered by the company and O’Leary sounds pessimistic as he says, “We doubt their capacity to deliver.” Prior to this, he had accused the Boeing management to be ‘running around like headless chickens’, which is quite demeaning.