The US aviation authority FAA has made it clear to Boeing that the Group can not rely on a speedy readmission of the Model 737 Max. In an e-mail released on Thursday, the agency also warned the aircraft manufacturer to withhold public statements on the certification process.
The major US carrier American Airlines canceled numerous other 737-Max flights in view of the great uncertainty surrounding the problem jet. On the stock market, Boeing's shares came under noticeable pressure.
FAA boss Steve Dickson has concerns that the aircraft manufacturer is following an "unrealistic" schedule, the Boeing agency warned in the e-mail. Dickson and Boeing boss Dennis Muilenburg are still in the course of the day for talks, said the supervision. The meeting was about ensuring that Boeing understood the FAA's plans for the re-registration process. Dickson also wanted to say that some of Boeing's public statements should serve to increase the pressure on the FAA to hurry up on certification.
Boeing shares under pressure
Boeing had confidently spread in November that the FAA was giving up on improvements to the 737 Max before the turn of the year. Dickson had already denied that on Wednesday. On the stock market, worries are mounting that the Airbus rival must continue to throttle or even suspend its 737 production. Muilenburg had already warned against this in the event that the readmission of the crisis jet continues to be delayed. Boeing's shares came on Thursday at times clearly negative. The 737 Max - Boeing's best-selling aircraft - is no longer allowed to take off within five months of March due to two crashes. In total, 346 people died in the accidents.
American Airlines said on Thursday, the 737 Max is unlikely to use until 7 April. This would take the compulsory break of the accident flyer longer than a year. Concerned airlines had to cancel because of the failure already numerous flights. In the United States next to American, the major domestic airlines Southwest and United Airlines have the crisis flyers in their fleets. In Europe, among others, the low-cost airline Ryanair and the travel group Tui and the Lufthansa subsidiary Sunexpress to Boeing's 737 Max customers.
Southwest Airlines receives compensation from Boeing
The US airline Southwest Airlines receives financial compensation from the Boeing Group for the worldwide ban on aircraft of the type. A similar agreement with the US aircraft manufacturer, Southwest Airlines announced on Thursday, without mentioning the amount of compensation. However, the biggest buyer of the Boeing 737 Max said it wanted to pass on $ 125 million to its employees.
