What to know as the troubled 737 Max readies a comeback
This past week, Boeing completed test flights of its troubled 737 Max airplane to demonstrate it can fly safely with new flight control software. The Max was grounded in March 2019 after two fatal crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia killed 346 people.
Even as the company began testing the planes for recertification, a federal inspector general’s report said Boeing had kept information from federal regulators about the flawed computer system that brought down the two jets during the plane’s initial approval process.
The Max is the most recent model of Boeing’s 737, a type of aircraft with many variants over the decades. More than 10,000 737s have been built.
If the Federal Aviation Administration is convinced that Boeing has corrected the problems that led to the crashes, the planes will return to service, but no timeline has been announced.
Industry experts said it could take several months before the agency and its counterparts in Europe, Canada and Brazil give the green light to certify the Max — possibly as late as 2021.
All told, this likely means that the Max won’t return to service until this fall at the earliest.
Here’s what travelers contemplating flying around that time need to know.
What airlines fly the Max?
Since it was introduced, Boeing has delivered 370 Max aircraft to 47 customers worldwide.
Southwest Airlines was the largest U.S. operator of the Max, with 34 in its fleet. American Airlines has 24 and United Airlines has 14. Delta Air Lines is the sole major U.S. carrier not to have ordered the jet to date. While the Max represents a small percentage of the fleets of these carriers, hundreds more were on order before the crashes.
Internationally, dozens of airlines are slated to take delivery of the Max over the coming years.
With COVID-19 slowing airline travel, what’s the hurry?
The Max is about 17% more fuel-efficient than its older Boeing 737 siblings. The fuel savings are huge for cash-strapped airlines.
How can I tell when I’m booking whether the plane will be a Max?
When you book your ticket online, airlines display the type of aircraft slated to fly the route. You might have to click a link to reveal this information. For example, American Airlines
previously listed the Max on its website booking page as the “7M8” aircraft, which stands for Boeing 737 MAX 8. (There are 7, 8, 9 and 10 numbered variants, depending on the seating capacity). Southwest has a webpage that lets you identify what plane you are scheduled to fly on.
What routes does the Max normally fly?
The Max is the latest generation of Boeing’s 737, which was designed to fly medium-range flights. None fly trans-Atlantic.
How can I tell if I’m flying on a Max?
If you’re waiting at the gate and see your plane, look for large and pointy fins extending above and below the wingtips called winglets.
Will airlines allow me to rebook or get a refund if I don’t want to fly on the Max?
Rebook? Yes. Refund? No. U.S. carriers have not yet announced policies related to the return of service of the Max. However, in a statement this past week, to a United Airlines spokesperson said that the company “will be transparent — and communicate in advance — with our customers who are booked to fly on a Max aircraft, will rebook those who do not want to fly on a Max at no charge.”