American Airlines extends Boeing 737 MAX cancellations for the fourth time

(Reuters) – American Airlines Group Inc (AAL.O) announced Sunday that it was canceling for the fourth time about 115 daily flights until early November due to the continued stranding of Boeing Co (PROHIBIT) 737 MAX jets.

The airline's decision was expected after the Federal Aviation Administration, which must re-approve aircraft for theft after two fatalities, revealed a new defect last month that Boeing expects to be corrected by at least September.

"American Airlines remains convinced that the impending software updates of the Boeing 737 MAX, as well as the new training elements developed by Boeing in coordination with our union partners, will result in the recertification of the aircraft this year," the airline said. airline in a statement released Sunday. .

American, the world's largest airline and the second largest operator of MAX in the United States, had recently planned to keep the MAX, used on most flights between LaGuardia Airport from New York and Miami, outside of its calendar until September 3rd. substituted another aircraft for its busiest flights, canceled others and temporarily suspended direct flights between Oakland (California) and Dallas-Fort Worth.

Some analysts have stated that they are not expecting MAX jets to fly again before the end of the year.

American, with 24 737 MAX aircraft and dozens more on order, schedules its flights without jet until November 2nd.

Southwest Airlines Co (among others), among other US carriers.LUV.N) removed the aircraft from its schedule until 1 October and United Airlines Holdings (UAL.O) until 3 November. Southwest is the largest MAX operator in the world.

The 737 MAX, which had been Boeing's best-selling aircraft with its fuel-efficient engines and long service life, was shut down around the world in March following the crash of an Ethiopian Airlines plane. shortly after takeoff, five months after a Lion Air plane similar fatal crash off the coast of Indonesia.

Boeing hopes that a software upgrade and a new driver training will add layers of protection to prevent triggering by erroneous data from a system called MCAS, activated in both aircraft before their crash.

American, which is also facing cancellations related to a labor dispute with its mechanics, is expected to announce its results for the second quarter later this month, with an expected increase in unit revenues, capacity constraints making its planes more flying.

However, the airline lowered its annual profit forecast in April, allocating an estimated $ 350 million of strandings to the MAX.

American General Manager Doug Parker is one of the strongest supporters of MAX. He said on June 12 that it was very likely that flights would resume in mid-August.