boeing 737 MAX

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Will Southwest Airlines Buy JetBlue?

by Gary Leff on October 22, 2019

Oct 22 2019

The underlying issue isn’t “will Southwest Airlines try to buy another airline” it’s “how does Southwest Airlines grow without the Boeing 737 MAX in service and continued production?” And if Southwest isn’t in a position to grow its business, it can’t command the historically high price-earnings multiple it’s enjoyed relative to peers in the U.S. airline industry.

Mergers are costly. They rarely generate the promised benefits. They involve combining IT systems, fleets, unionized work forces, and company cultures. They’re fraught with risk. Southwest Airlines needs the MAX to be flying again soon, and likely to act on a plan to diversify its fleet (with the attenuated costs and complexity that brings) — potentially with Embraer E2 jets.

American Airlines CEO Doug Parker: His Boeing 737 MAXs Are Safe Today – Other Airlines’ May Not Be

by Gary Leff on September 23, 2019

Sep 23 2019

American Airlines CEO Doug Parker says that the plane is safe to fly today – with American’s 737 MAX and using American’s pilots – suggesting that the delay in bringing the plane back into service is so that it’ll be safe even when operated by other airlines.

He dishes on how they’re scheduling the plane’s return to service, and whether or not delays have been the result of politics.

United Airlines Forgot to Remove the 737 MAX From Their Schedule

by Gary Leff on July 27, 2019

Jul 27 2019

Southwest, American, and United have all announced that they’re cancelling Boeing 737 MAX flights into early November although the truth is they don’t know when it will fly again. Each previous cancellation has been followed by another one.

Except… while United announced that they were pulling the 737 MAX from their schedule, they apparently forgot to actually do it.

IATA Says Boeing 737 MAX Won’t Fly Until August, While Boeing’s CEO Apologizes to Victims’ Families

by Gary Leff on May 29, 2019

May 29 2019

Last week I wrote that the FAA would be trying to convince the world’s regulators to re-certify the Boeing 737 MAX. American Airlines CEO Doug Parker said he expects the plane to fly in ‘weeks, not months’ but that the FAA would want a critical mass of other world regulators to sign off on the plane as well as part of convincing the public that it’s safe to fly — however several countries would likely be recalcitrant for political reasons.

Now the head of standards-setting trade group the International Air Transport Association says he expects the Boeing 737 MAX to return in 10 to 12 weeks – at the earliest..

Elizabeth Warren’s Big Airport Mess and American’s New 737 MAX Routes

by Gary Leff on May 28, 2019

women cleaning up spilled drink on airport floor

May 28 2019

A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.

The 737 MAX Could Be Re-Certified in June, Fly Again This Summer

by Gary Leff on May 24, 2019

May 24 2019

The US government is ready to see the 737 MAX re-certified by the end of June — mere weeks from now, as American Airlines CEO Doug Parker predicted. Whether or not that happens may depend on getting some other world agencies to go along. They won’t likely have unanimity, and won’t hold themselves to that standard. But I imagine they’ll hold off until they get Europe and Canada, though not China, to sign off with them.

Once that happens it will take time for airlines to go through steps to bring the plane back into their schedule, which makes cancellations through mid-August taken weeks ago by US carriers seem wise — and suggests that the process to bring the MAX back to the skies is proceeding as expected.

Tomorrow the US Will Try to Convince the World to Quickly Re-certify the Boeing 737 MAX

by Gary Leff on May 22, 2019

May 22 2019

On Thursday, May 23rd the FAA is convening a meeting in Dallas with regulators from around the world. That’s what American Airlines CEO Doug Parker told the airline’s employees in his most recent Crew News question and answer session.

He explained “at that time the FAA is going to show the other regulators their views on the fix.” He says that the FAA “will be at least very close to re-certifying the aircraft, weeks not months.” He says not every country will go along and blames “politics are at play” for any reluctance.

Warren Buffett: Won’t Hesitate Even for a Second to Fly the 737 MAX

by Gary Leff on May 6, 2019

May 06 2019

Asked about the Boeing 737 MAX during Berkshire Hathaway’s shareholders meeting, Warren Buffett said that he “will never hesitate even for a second to fly on a 737 MAX” once it returns to service.

You may have an opportunity to fly the MAX again sometime this summer. Will you let it take you where you’re going?

President Trump Wants Boeing to Rename the 737 MAX

by Gary Leff on April 15, 2019

airplane seats with african american man overlayed on top

Apr 15 2019

When the President of the United States, himself a successful promoter whose primary asset is his brand, gives free marketing advice it’s actually worth listening to, even if he’s just cribbing it straight from Stringer Bell in The Wire.

American Extends 737 MAX Cancellations Through August 19 – Believes Plane Will Fly Sooner

by Gary Leff on April 14, 2019

Apr 14 2019

American Airlines, in a letter to employees, announced this morning that they had extended their grounding of the aircraft through August 19th.

They were explicit, though, that they believe the plane will be flying before then – and that an earlier return to service will mean using the MAX as spare aircraft to help during peak summer travel.