MAX returns – OAG with the details

OAG, the Luton-based airline data analysis organisation has been following the trials and tribulations of the Boeing MAX since it was grounded in March 2019.

Approval was given by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in November 2020 for the aircraft to take to the skies again, for airlines under the FAA jurisdiction, and this action saw a number of other countries follow suit with regulators in Europe, Britain, Canada, Brazil and the UAE giving the go-ahead for take-off. This is not the case in Asia yet where the aircraft remains grounded.

Back in February 2019, when the B737 MAX was still in operation, flights on this aircraft type accounted for 1.1% of total passenger aircraft global capacity. Currently less than half that amount, 0.4% of global capacity operates on the MAX aircraft. In 2019 there were 36 carriers with the B737 MAX operating and now there are just eight carriers currently operating the MAX, all but one are based in the Americas.

Two years ago, Southwest Airlines was the largest of the MAX operators with 41 of the aircraft in their fleet but as of February 2021, their fleet of MAX aircraft were still not back in the air earning revenue. However, Southwest have confirmed this week that their intention is to restart MAX operations this month on multiple routes across their network.

American Airlines and United Airlines have already taken that step, with the MAX back in operation in February, albeit at less than the rate previously operated.

In Europe there is no news of service introduction with the lead airlines Ryanair and TUI still struggling with the pandemic consequences, but their aircraft’s integration into the schedules cannot be far away.  From the American experience there seems to be little public resistance to the return of the plane, and the media is too busy with other problems to take an interest.

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