US regulator says Boeing safety improvements vital for profitability

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The head of the Federal Aviation Administration told a U.S. Senate panel on Wednesday that Boeing must address a series of safety issues before he will let them boost 737 MAX production, warning the issue could impact company profits. FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker capped production at 38 MAX planes per month in January after a door panel missing four key bolts flew off an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 midair in January. "They cannot grow to where they need to grow without" making broad safety improvements in six key categories, Whitaker said at a Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigation hearing on FAA's oversight of Boeing.