American Airlines has extended the removal of Boeing 737 Max
aircraft from its schedule through Sept. 3, a move that suggests
recertification of the grounded plane is moving slower than the carrier had
hoped.
The extension means that American will cancel approximately
115 flights per day through Labor Day, which is the unofficial end of the
summer travel. American had previously removed its 24 737 Max from its schedule
through Aug. 19.
In a statement Sunday, American said that it remains
confident that impending software updates to the 737 Max, along with the new
training elements Boeing is developing in coordination with pilots unions, will
lead to recertification of the aircraft soon. "We have been in continuous
contact with the FAA, DOT, National Transportation Safety Board and other
regulatory authorities, and we are pleased with the progress to date," the
carrier said.
American is the first of the three U.S. Max operators to
take the aircraft off its schedule through the full summer travel season.
United, which flies 14 Max, has taken the plane off its schedule through Aug.
3. Southwest has removed its 34 Max aircraft from its schedule through Aug. 5.
The 737 Max has been grounded worldwide since shortly after
the March 10 crash of an Ethiopian Airlines Max 8. That crash followed the
October crash of a Lion Air Max 8. A combined 346 people died in the two
incidents.
Boeing has since completed a software update for the plane
and has recommended alterations to pilot-training procedures.