An FAA order mandating changes to Boeing 737 MAXs affected by recently discovered electrical issues before those aircraft can fly again has been finalized and is slated for publication April 30.
Boeing remains confident that internal challenges will not hamper its efforts to get the 737 MAX and 787 programs back on track but suggests that a prolonged trade stalemate between China and the U.S. could present near-term problems.
Speaking at Routes Reconnected, Eddie Wilson warned that there will be “a lot of pain” for some primary and secondary airports across Europe in the coming years.
While Boeing, the FAA, and affected operators continue to collaborate on fixes for 737 MAXs that are out of service awaiting electrical-system modifications, executives at the manufacturer and one affected customer are confident the disruption will not drag on.
Turkish Airlines has cut 50 aircraft from its firm commitment for 75 Boeing 737 MAXs, canceling 10 aircraft outright and reverting a further 40 to options.
Spirit AeroSystems is now making several changes it had wanted to make eventually in a much quicker fashion—potentially turning its labor-intensive, 20th-century style factories into modern marvels of digitally driven lean manufacturing efficiency.
Electrical grounding issues that led Boeing to recommend some 737 MAX operators park their aircraft have turned up in two areas besides the original standby power control unit where it was first discovered.
One week into a de facto partial fleet grounding, Boeing continues to evaluate the scale and needed steps to correct 737 MAX electrical system problems—an issue that extends beyond the area originally flagged by the manufacturer.
Air Canada’s long-awaited federal financing package has several complexities the airline needs to address as the recovery in Canada’s air travel market remains more uncertain than ever.
Flydubai said deliveries of further Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in 2021 are not currently on the table as the LCC focuses on bringing the type back into service.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has partially lifted the ban on Boeing 737 MAX operations, allowing the type to fly over the country’s airspace after a two-year ban.
Romania’s flag-carrier TAROM will see its fleet and personnel trimmed as it recovers from the coronavirus pandemic, while the country’s privately owned LCC Blue Air intends to expand as its delayed Boeing 737 MAX aircraft start to arrive.
Hong Kong-based China Aircraft Leasing Group (CALC) announced March 25 that it had agreed with Boeing to trim its order for 737 MAX family aircraft from 92 aircraft to 66.
A special IATA task force is supporting airlines as they return Boeing 737 MAXs to service, and the association’s safety audit program has been modified to help ensure return-to-service requirements are followed.
As Boeing 737 MAX fleet activity grows, airframe-level utilization shows that while usage is ramping up, pandemic-related travel restrictions and reduced demand are lowering average flight-segment times as well as total activity levels.
Boeing’s 737 MAX program recovery is hitting its marks as airlines work more of the narrowbody twins back into fleets and deliveries ramp up, but the macro demand picture likely will not support the company’s current production-rate outlook, a Canaccord Genuity analysis said.
