Left with few options, major U.S. airlines are using Boeing's safety crisis as leverage

Airline executives are frustrated with Boeing as its safety crisis has upended their business plans. But in a tight market for large aircraft supplied by two companies, they have little choice but do business with the U.S. plane maker.

Despite some public displays of alarm — United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby flew to France to talk with Airbus as Boeing’s latest crisis erupted — carriers are still negotiating new plane orders, looking to leverage Boeing’s delays to secure better terms.

Boeing’s delivery schedule faces extended delays following a Jan. 5 mid-flight cabin blowout that exposed problems with safety and quality control in its