David Koenig/Associated Press

Boeing's latest setback with production issues means airlines will have fewer planes than they expected to handle big crowds of travelers this summer. The company's CEO said Tuesday an issue with fuselage fittings will prevent the company from delivering dozens of 737 Max jetliners to airlines in time for the summer season. But CEO David Calhoun says the issue won't affect Boeing's plans to increase the production rate for the 737 Max, its best-selling plane. Boeing disclosed last week that subcontractor used what Boeing called a non-standard manufacturing process on fittings where the tail is attached to the fuselage of most models of Max jets built since 2019.

Boeing has pleaded not guilty to a criminal charge in a case revolving around two crashes of Boeing 737 Max planes. A federal judge in Texas took Boeing's plea Thursday. The judge is considering whether to appoint a special monitor to examine safety issues at the company. It's an unusual case because Boeing thought it had settled the issue when it reached a deal with federal prosecutors two years ago. But relatives of some of the passengers who died are challenging the settlement because they weren't informed about secret negotiations between Boeing and the Justice Department.