American Airlines Group has announced plans to reintroduce Boeing 737 Max jets into passenger service by the end of the year, conditional upon Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recertification.
The airline intends to schedule daily flights between Miami and New York from December 29 to January 4, with bookings opening from October 24.
“We remain in contact with the FAA and Boeing on the certification process and we’ll continue to update our plans based on when the aircraft is certified,” American Airlines stated.
The Boeing 737 MAX has been grounded since March 2019 after two fatal crashes.
The FAA has not set a definitive timeline for the aircraft’s return but emphasizes it will only lift the grounding order once it is satisfied the aircraft meets certification standards.
The FAA’s statement highlights its commitment to safety, asserting, “will lift the grounding order only after FAA safety experts are satisfied that the aircraft meets certification standards.”
The recertification process is underway, the FAA has released a draft report on revised training procedures for the Max, which is open for public comment until November 2.
Meanwhile, American Airlines assures it will inform customers when they are flying on a 737 Max, indicating transparency.
While American Airlines prepares for the Max’s return, the broader industry landscape is characterized by intense scrutiny and production challenges.
Competitor Airbus has established a sales lead over Boeing and now Boeing is facing a government-mandated production cap on its best-selling plane.
Airbus ha superado a Boeing durante cinco años seguidos en pedidos y entregas de aviones y acaba de reportar un aumento trimestral del 28% en las ganancias netas. Ya estaba ganando cuota de mercado al vencer a Boeing en el desarrollo de una línea de aviones de tamaño mediano y eficientes en combustible que son más baratos para las aerolíneas.
Boeing has a significant backlog of over 5,660 commercial planes. The disparity between post-COVID flight demand and aircraft supply is concerning for both travelers and airlines.
Yet the European company is unlikely to extend its advantage in the Airbus-Boeing duopoly much further despite having customers clamoring for more commercial aircraft, according to aviation analysts.
The reason: Airbus already is making planes as fast as it can and has a backlog of more than 8,600 orders to fill.
The reintroduction of the Max into American Airlines’ fleet is being managed cautiously, with the company closely coordinating with the FAA and Boeing to ensure the aircraft meets rigorous safety and certification standards before passengers board once again.
Relevant articles:
– American Airlines plans to return Boeing 737 Max to service at year-end , AOL, 05/09/2024
– Commercial jet maker Airbus is staying humble even as Boeing flounders. There’s a reason for that, North Platte Telegraph, 05/08/2024
– American Flight Diverts Due To Rude, Petty Flight Attendant, Live and Let’s Fly, 05/07/2024
– American Flight Dallas-Tampa Declares Emergency, AviationSource News, 05/08/2024