U.S. Airlines to Prepare Boeing Max for First Flights Since 2019
- American poised to be first, with Miami-NYC service next month
- Passenger reaction still a mystery after 20-month grounding
U.S. airlines are preparing to get the Boeing Co. 737 Max ready for commercial flights after regulators lifted a 20-month grounding.
American Airlines Group Inc. is poised to be the first carrier to bring back the Max since the flying ban began in March 2019. The company confirmed Wednesday that it’s planning to start operating the plane Dec. 29 on service between Miami and New York, but took pains to say that passengers won’t have to ride on Boeing’s best-selling jet if they don’t want to.
“Our customers will be able to easily identify whether they are traveling on one even if schedules change,” American said in a message to employees. “If a customer prefers to not fly on this aircraft, we’ll provide flexibility to ensure they can be easily re-accommodated.”