New York (CNN) The Boeing 737 Max crisis has become a "defining moment" for the company, according to CEO Dennis Muilenburg. But he's confident it hasn't hurt Boeing's long-term growth prospects.

Speaking at a New York analyst conference hosted by AB Bernstein Wednesday, Muilenburg said the company is laser-focused on getting the 737 Max back in the air, although he wouldn't give a timeline for when he thought that could happen. He also didn't comment on the overall cost to the company, but said he is convinced the plane will be safe once it returns to service.

"Public confidence has been hurt, and we have work to do to earn and re-earn the trust of the flying public," he said. "We're going to do everything we can to make sure... the Max is safe to fly."

The 737 Max was grounded worldwide after a fatal crash of an Ethiopian Airlines jet in March, which followed a fatal crash of a Lion Air jet in Indonesia in October. Crash investigators have focused on an automatic safety feature on the jet as a possible contributor to the crashes.

Boeing BA Muilenburg saidwill work with airlines on different forms of compensation for the grounding and the halt in new deliveries . He said some of that compensation could be in supplying services or future purchases at reduced cost.

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