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Seeking to allay fears ahead of its first commercial passenger flight later this month, Boeing organized a 737 MAX flight with journalists on board.
Boeing Co’s 737 MAX made its first post-ground flight with onboard media on Wednesday, as carriers seek to demonstrate to passengers that the redesigned aircraft is safe after a 20-month safety ban.
In another show of confidence, European low-cost carrier Ryanair was poised to place a hefty order for up to 75 additional 737 MAX jets, industry sources said.
Wednesday’s American Airlines Flight 737 MAX was a 45-minute jump from Dallas, Texas, to Tulsa, Oklahoma in the United States. It comes weeks before the first commercial passenger flight on Dec. 29 and is part of a public relations effort to allay any concerns about the plane.
Boeing’s best-selling jet was grounded in March 2019 after two accidents in five months killed a total of 346 people, marking the industry’s worst safety crisis in decades and undermining aviation regulatory leadership. from USA
Wednesday’s flight marked the first time anyone, other than regulators and industry personnel, had flown the MAX from ground, sparking software-focused investigations that were overwhelming pilots.
The mood on Wednesday’s flight, which included a Reuters reporter, was subdued. Some passengers mingled and chatted before landing when applause erupted.
Reflecting the COVID-19 pandemic that has affected commercial aviation, each of the roughly 90 journalists, flight attendants and other American Airlines employees on the flight wore face masks.
“The history of aviation is built on a chain of safety,” Captain Pete Gamble told passengers just before takeoff. “When the chain of safety breaks, it is up to us in the industry to repair it and get it back.”
Last month, the US Federal Aviation Administration licensed the plane, following design changes and retraining.
A smooth return to service for the MAX is seen as critical to Boeing’s reputation and finances, which have been hit hard by the MAX delivery freeze and the coronavirus crisis.
Airlines and leasing companies have spent hundreds of billions of dollars to purchase the latest upgrade to the 737, the world’s best-selling passenger jet.
Lured by deep discounts and eager to help repair the MAX’s reputation around which they have built their fleet plans, some airlines are now stepping in to show business support.
Intense publicity
Boeing is bracing for intense publicity including routine failures by operating a 24-hour “situation room” to monitor every MAX flight globally, and has briefed some industry commentators on return-to-service details. industry sources said.
“We continue to work closely with global regulators and our customers to safely return the fleet to commercial service,” said a Boeing spokesperson.
Brazil’s Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes is planning a media event for the redesigned MAX this month.
The public relations efforts are designed to highlight software and training updates that the FAA says remove any doubts about aircraft safety.
But relatives of the accident victims have protested the return to service, saying it is premature before a final investigative report on the second accident in Ethiopia is released.
Boeing has toned down its original plans for the plane’s return as the crisis dragged on longer than expected, scrapping a high-profile ad campaign, a Seattle-area ceremony, and a tour in an Air 737 MAX from Oman. industry sources said.
In one example of how airlines have begun to soften references to the MAX brand, the security cards for Wednesday’s flight omitted the name “MAX” and only read “737.”
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