Airlines and the damage caused by the Boeing 737 MAX 8 – ElSol.com.ar – Diario de Mendoza, Argentina

Aerolíneas Argentinas' fleet includes five Boeing 737 MAX 8s, which were marginalized by operations following the tragedy in Ethiopia, which killed 157 people.

The flag line used these planes mainly for regional flights and to the Caribbean because, because of its autonomy, it allows a direct and non-stop flight between Buenos Aires and Punta Cana, further highlighting that they consume 15 % less fuel compared to airplanes. similar

Although the percentage of Boeing 737 MAX 8 in the entire fleet of Aerolineas Argentinas is negligible (the company has 82 aircraft), the decision to leave them on the ground generates injuries, not just economic losses.

"There are 21,000 fewer places for sale a week," said Marcelo Cantón, director of general affairs and communications at Aerolíneas Argentinas. The company also continues to pay a monthly fee as the aircraft in question are leased.

The aircraft were outsourced, through a financial and operating leasing agreement, to international consortiums that purchased them from Boeing and then leased to different airlines. In the case of Aerolíneas Argentinas, this is a monthly disbursement of two million dollars.

The decision to marginalize these aircraft, at least until the cause of the accident was determined in Ethiopia, created another disadvantage for Aerolineas Argentinas, which was to cover cabotage and regional flights to operate the Boeing 737 MAX. 8 with other aircraft in the fleet, mainly 737-800.

There have already been reprograms and delays, although the biggest problem will come at Easter, when the demand will increase considerably. "The situation, if it is maintained in the long term, is complicated," admitted Cantón.

In addition to badyzing the economic impact, the company's authorities are in constant contact with Boeing representatives. "We want the guarantee that it was safe," said Cantón, who said that since November 2017, 7,500 flights with the MAX 8 have been carried out and that "we have Have never had a safety report ".