The airline company Boeing is facing challenges with both plane crashes and financial losses, but that has not prevented a significant salary increase for the company’s outgoing CEO, David Calhoun. In 2023, David Calhoun can expect a total salary of 33 million dollars, which is approximately 226 million Danish kroner, according to CNN. The significant salary increase of 45 percent comes despite the financial difficulties that Boeing has faced since 2019. The company has suffered losses of over 31 billion dollars, around 212 billion Danish kroner. The salary increase was approved by Boeing’s shareholders at the company’s annual general meeting on Friday. Chairman Stene Mollenkopf explains that the salary increase reflects Calhoun’s performance and progress in restoring the company’s operational and financial strength.
In recent years, Boeing has been severely affected by the coronavirus crisis and lockdowns that have affected the entire aviation industry, as well as scandals surrounding their popular 737 Max planes. 737 Max flights were suspended after two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019, where 346 people lost their lives. Most recently, the aircraft type made headlines again in January when an emergency exit door fell off a plane during a flight. No one was injured in this incident. David Calhoun has been leading Boeing since January 2020 and announced in March that he will step down from his position at the end of 2024.