Koito problems hit Continental’s Boeing delivery schedule

Deliveries to Continental Airlines of Boeing aircraft have been delayed as a result of an escalating controversy surrounding seat manufacturer Koito Industries.

A Continental spokeswoman confirms that two Boeing 737-800s scheduled to be delivered to the carrier in January “have been delayed” and the carrier expects the Koito situation “could affect more deliveries during the year”.

Koito this week admitted it falsified test results on seats. Some 150,000 seats on 1,000 aircraft in the world fleet are said to be impacted. Regulators have not yet issued airworthiness directives, but EASA is not ruling out the possibility of such a measure.

But while aircraft fitted with Koito seats may ultimately need to be modified or removed – depending on forthcoming tests – Continental is currently dealing with aircraft delivery delays as shipment of new Koito seats have stopped.

“We continue to work with Koito and Boeing on the issue,” says the spokeswoman. She confirms Koito seats are present in both first and economy-class cabins of its Boeing aircraft.

via Koito problems hit Continental’s Boeing delivery schedule.