LONDON - United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz has vowed to be a passenger on the first Boeing MAX service once the aircraft is recertificated.
But he might have to wait a while. This week both American Airlines and Southwest Airlines said they would operate their schedules without the Boeing 737 MAX through early March 2020, indicating they do not expect FAA to approve the grounded model’s return before year-end 2019.
United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz
Boeing this week said it expected the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to issue an order approving the plane’s return to service next month, but added it now expected commercial service to resume in January.
Speaking at the Aviation Club in London, Mr Munoz said United would reimburse any traveller who decided at the last moment not to fly the 737 MAX.
United has been unable to operate its 14 MAX-9 aircraft since the aircraft was grounded in March.
This followed two fatal crashes within five months involving Boeing 737 MAX aircraft being flown by Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines.