Southwest and Boeing
had a 'reckless, greedy conspiracy' to keep the 737 Max flying despite
knowing about its flaws, a new lawsuit alleges
 Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 Max aircraft are parked on the tarmac after being grounded, at the Southern California Logistics Airport in Victorville, California. MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images A lawsuit alleges that Boeing and Southwest Airlines conspired to cover up issues with the 737 Max from customers, pilots, and regulators.
A new lawsuit from passengers accuses Boeing and Southwest Airlines of having a "reckless greedy conspiracy" to launch the 737 Max plane and keep it flying despite safety defects. The lawsuit says that Southwest, which has a fleet made up entirely of Boeing planes, has a unique relationship with Boeing and that it made consistent profits despite struggles in the industry through a "collusive relationship" with Boeing. It was filed by 11 Southwest passengers on Thursday in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. Southwest worked with Boeing, the lawsuit alleges, "to protect that relationship - and its streak of profits - when faced with a fatal design defect in Boeing's 737 Max 8 aircraft." It did so, the suit alleges by "lying to and defrauding, customers, regulators, and its own pilots and employees, risking thousands of lives in the process." Read more: Here are all the investigations and lawsuits that Boeing and the FAA are facing after the 737 Max crashes killed almost 350 people It alleges Southwest worked with Boeing to "cover up the defect" with the 737 Max plane that Boeing "rushed" to the market. The suit also says that Southwest and Boeing worked together to "falsely tout the safety of the plane."  A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 Max plane. Southwest Airlines The passengers travelled on Boeing 737 Max planes between August 29 2017 and March 2019, when the planes were grounded around the world after the second fatal crash involving the plane model. The two crashes by the Max planes killed 346 people. The passengers say that they would not have flown on the plane if they knew it was "fatally defective." "Put simply, Southwest and Boeing conspired to cover up this indisputable fact: The 737 Max 8 was so defective and poorly designed that it could easily kill you." It alleges that Southwest has worked with Boeing in "seemingly irrational" ways, including only ordering planes from Boeing and "releasing airplanes it had ordered to its own competitors in order to allow Boeing to meet demand for new airplanes."  FILE PHOTO: American civil aviation and Boeing investigators search through the debris at the scene of the Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET 302 plane crash, near the town of Bishoftu, southeast of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia March 12, 2019. REUTERS/Baz Ratner/File Photo Southwest has 34 Boeing 737 Max planes in its fleet, more than any other airline in the world. Like other US airlines, it has cancelled flights involving the plane as it waits Boeing's updates to the jet to be certified by the US Federal Aviation Administration. In a statement to The Washington Post, Southwest said: "We intend to vigorously defend against the claims in the filing and strongly believe that the allegations made are completely without merit." "Safety has always been Southwest's most important responsibility to both our Customers and our Employees and we stand ready to fully comply with all requirements to safely return the Max aircraft to service." Boeing declined to comment on the lawsuit to The Washington Post. The company faces a number of other lawsuits from shareholders, pilots, victims families, as well as federal and Congressional investigations that will look at how the plane was designed and certified to fly. Many of these lawsuits are similar to the one filed against Boeing and Southwest. Lawyers representing families of the crash victims who spoke to Business Insider say that Boeing knew of safety defects in the plane and that Boeing failed to warn pilots and passengers. American Airlines pilots also accused Boeing from keeping information about problems with the plane from pilots, accusing the company of having a "poisoned, diseased philosophy." https://www.businessinsider.com/737-max-lawsuit-alleges-conspiracy-with-southwest-keep-jet-flying-2019-7 Back to Top |
Ryanair
closing bases due to Boeing 737 MAX crisis
said in a statement that it expected to take delivery of just 30 Boeing 737 MAX 200 jets by the end of May 2020, instead of the 58 that it originally expected for its summer schedule.
Ryanair said Tuesday it will close some of its bases because of problems with Boeing's crisis-hit 737 MAX jet, which has been grounded after two fatal accidents.
The Irish no-frills airline said in a statement that it expected to take delivery of just 30 Boeing 737 MAX 200 jets by the end of May 2020, instead of the 58 that it originally expected for its summer schedule.
The jets are a variant of the MAX aircraft and therefore need certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), it added.
"This shortfall in aircraft deliveries will necessitate some base cuts and closures for summer 2020, but also for the winter 2019 schedule," Chief Executive Michael O'Leary said in the statement.
"We are starting a series of discussions with our airports to determine which of Ryanair's underperforming or loss making bases should suffer these short term cuts and/or closures from November 2019," O'Leary noted.
"We will also be consulting with our people and our unions in planning and implementing these base cuts and closures, which are directly caused by the B737 MAX delivery delays to the B737 MAX program."
The Dublin-based group did not however specify which bases were at risk, nor did it signal any job cuts.
- Forecasts slashed -
As a result, however, Ryanair also slashed its summer growth rate from seven percent to three percent.
And it cut its full-year 2020/2021 passenger traffic growth forecast to 157 million, compared with prior guidance of 162 million.
Ryanair now hopes to take delivery of its first MAX 200 jet some time between January and February 2020.
Boeing's global fleet of 737 MAX planes has been grounded since mid-March following the second of two catastrophic accidents in Indonesia and Ethiopia which killed 346 people.
The US aviation giant has developed a software upgrade to the 737 MAX after problems with a flight handling system were tied to the Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines crashes. But the jet has still not been cleared by regulators to resume flying.
Ryanair, which operates a fleet of more than 450 Boeing 737-800 series aircraft, on Tuesday stressed its commitment to the MAX plane.
The group currently has orders of up to 210 new Boeing 737 jets, including 135 MAX 200s and with options for 75 more MAX 200s.
- 'Remains committed' -
"Ryanair remains committed to the B737 MAX aircraft, and now expects that it will return to flying service before the end of 2019, however the exact date of this return remains uncertain," O'Leary said on Tuesday.
"Boeing is hoping that a certification package will be submitted to regulators by September with a return to service shortly thereafter.
"We believe it would be prudent to plan for that date to slip by some months, possibly as late as December.
He added: "Ryanair expects that the MAX200 will be approved for flight services within two months of the MAX return to service."
Ryanair is meanwhile overhauling its activities into distinct operations, mirroring a set-up by British Airways owner IAG.
The group is targeting 200 million passengers per year by 2024.
said in a statement that it expected to take delivery of just 30 Boeing 737 MAX 200 jets by the end of May 2020, instead of the 58 that it originally expected for its summer schedule.
Ryanair said Tuesday it will close some of its bases because of problems with Boeing's crisis-hit 737 MAX jet, which has been grounded after two fatal accidents.
The Irish no-frills airline said in a statement that it expected to take delivery of just 30 Boeing 737 MAX 200 jets by the end of May 2020, instead of the 58 that it originally expected for its summer schedule.
The jets are a variant of the MAX aircraft and therefore need certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), it added.
"This shortfall in aircraft deliveries will necessitate some base cuts and closures for summer 2020, but also for the winter 2019 schedule," Chief Executive Michael O'Leary said in the statement.
"We are starting a series of discussions with our airports to determine which of Ryanair's underperforming or loss making bases should suffer these short term cuts and/or closures from November 2019," O'Leary noted.
"We will also be consulting with our people and our unions in planning and implementing these base cuts and closures, which are directly caused by the B737 MAX delivery delays to the B737 MAX program."
The Dublin-based group did not however specify which bases were at risk, nor did it signal any job cuts.
- Forecasts slashed -
As a result, however, Ryanair also slashed its summer growth rate from seven percent to three percent.
And it cut its full-year 2020/2021 passenger traffic growth forecast to 157 million, compared with prior guidance of 162 million.
Ryanair now hopes to take delivery of its first MAX 200 jet some time between January and February 2020.
Boeing's global fleet of 737 MAX planes has been grounded since mid-March following the second of two catastrophic accidents in Indonesia and Ethiopia which killed 346 people.
The US aviation giant has developed a software upgrade to the 737 MAX after problems with a flight handling system were tied to the Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines crashes. But the jet has still not been cleared by regulators to resume flying.
Ryanair, which operates a fleet of more than 450 Boeing 737-800 series aircraft, on Tuesday stressed its commitment to the MAX plane.
The group currently has orders of up to 210 new Boeing 737 jets, including 135 MAX 200s and with options for 75 more MAX 200s.
- 'Remains committed' -
"Ryanair remains committed to the B737 MAX aircraft, and now expects that it will return to flying service before the end of 2019, however the exact date of this return remains uncertain," O'Leary said on Tuesday.
"Boeing is hoping that a certification package will be submitted to regulators by September with a return to service shortly thereafter.
"We believe it would be prudent to plan for that date to slip by some months, possibly as late as December.
He added: "Ryanair expects that the MAX200 will be approved for flight services within two months of the MAX return to service."
Ryanair is meanwhile overhauling its activities into distinct operations, mirroring a set-up by British Airways owner IAG.
The group is targeting 200 million passengers per year by 2024.
Boeing
737 Max grounding hits Southwest's pilot hiring
- Southwest is putting
off some pilot hiring as the Boeing 737 Max stays grounded.
- The jets have been
grounded since mid-March after two fatal crashes.
- The airline says it made the decision because it is unclear when the planes will fly again.
Southwest
Airlines Boeing 737 MAX aircraft are parked on the tarmac after being grounded,
at the Southern California Logistics Airport in Victorville, California on
March 28, 2019.
The Boeing 737 Max grounding is starting to affect pilot hiring as the planes remain out of the skies for a fifth month.
Southwest Airlines said it delayed hiring for two classes of new pilots, which have about 25 apiece, and postponed captain upgrades for two other classes of current pilots because it isn't clear when the Max planes will fly again. Dallas-based Southwest is the biggest U.S. operator of the Boeing 737 Max with 34 in its fleet of around 750 aircraft.
Airlines have already canceled thousands of flights and have removed the jets from their schedules through the fall with no sense from regulators of when the planes will be allowed to fly again. Aviation officials worldwide grounded the jets in mid-March after two fatal crashes claimed a total of 346 lives.
"All of these classes were scheduled to take place in either September, October, or December of this year to support our previously anticipated delivery of 37 MAX 8 and 7 MAX 7 aircraft in 2019," Southwest said in a statement. "Once we have more clarity on the return-to-service date of the MAX, and future MAX delivery timelines, we will look towards reinstating classes, as needed, to support the expected growth of our fleet."
Southwest operates an all-Boeing 737 fleet and had about 9,100 pilots as of the end of last year, according to a company filing.
Other airlines are also grappling with the affects of the grounding, which has coincided with the summer travel season, U.S. airlines' busiest time of year. United, which is scheduled to report second-quarter results after the market closes Tuesday, and American in the past week removed the planes from their schedules until early November, several months later than previously expected. Southwest removed the planes from its schedules until October.
Boeing has developed a software fix for a system that investigators implicated in the two crashes - one in Indonesia in October and another in Ethiopia in March. But regulators have not indicated when they expect to approve the fix along with a package of pilot training updates and materials.
American and Southwest will update investors on the impact of the Max grounding when they report second-quarter results on July 25. American last week said it expects the Max grounding cost it $185 million in pretax income in the three months ended June 30, but that fuller planes likely drove up revenue for each seat it flies a mile, a key industry metric.
European budget airline Ryanair on Tuesday cut its passenger growth forecast for next summer, saying it expects to have fewer Max planes flying by then than it expected.
Rival Delta Air Lines doesn't have any Boeing 737 Max planes and told investors last week that it has benefited slightly from its competitors' constrained fleets due to the grounding. Delta's stock hit an all-time high of $63.11 on Tuesday.
The Boeing 737 Max grounding is starting to affect pilot hiring as the planes remain out of the skies for a fifth month.
Southwest Airlines said it delayed hiring for two classes of new pilots, which have about 25 apiece, and postponed captain upgrades for two other classes of current pilots because it isn't clear when the Max planes will fly again. Dallas-based Southwest is the biggest U.S. operator of the Boeing 737 Max with 34 in its fleet of around 750 aircraft.
Airlines have already canceled thousands of flights and have removed the jets from their schedules through the fall with no sense from regulators of when the planes will be allowed to fly again. Aviation officials worldwide grounded the jets in mid-March after two fatal crashes claimed a total of 346 lives.
"All of these classes were scheduled to take place in either September, October, or December of this year to support our previously anticipated delivery of 37 MAX 8 and 7 MAX 7 aircraft in 2019," Southwest said in a statement. "Once we have more clarity on the return-to-service date of the MAX, and future MAX delivery timelines, we will look towards reinstating classes, as needed, to support the expected growth of our fleet."
Southwest operates an all-Boeing 737 fleet and had about 9,100 pilots as of the end of last year, according to a company filing.
Other airlines are also grappling with the affects of the grounding, which has coincided with the summer travel season, U.S. airlines' busiest time of year. United, which is scheduled to report second-quarter results after the market closes Tuesday, and American in the past week removed the planes from their schedules until early November, several months later than previously expected. Southwest removed the planes from its schedules until October.
Boeing has developed a software fix for a system that investigators implicated in the two crashes - one in Indonesia in October and another in Ethiopia in March. But regulators have not indicated when they expect to approve the fix along with a package of pilot training updates and materials.
American and Southwest will update investors on the impact of the Max grounding when they report second-quarter results on July 25. American last week said it expects the Max grounding cost it $185 million in pretax income in the three months ended June 30, but that fuller planes likely drove up revenue for each seat it flies a mile, a key industry metric.
European budget airline Ryanair on Tuesday cut its passenger growth forecast for next summer, saying it expects to have fewer Max planes flying by then than it expected.
Rival Delta Air Lines doesn't have any Boeing 737 Max planes and told investors last week that it has benefited slightly from its competitors' constrained fleets due to the grounding. Delta's stock hit an all-time high of $63.11 on Tuesday.
Ryanair Boeing 737MAX 200. (Foto: Boeing)
Ryanair dropper MAX-navnet
Det irske lavprisselskab Ryanair omdøber tilsyneladende de Boeing 737 MAX, som selskabet venter på at få leveret.
Først var det den amerikanske præsident, Donald Trump, der anbefalede Boeing at give 737 MAX et andet navn. Siden fulgte Emirates’ koncernchef, sir Tim Clark, op med en lignende anbefaling. Og nu ser det ud til, at Ryanair gør alvor af at droppe MAX-navnet på de fly, som venter på at blive leveret til det irske lavprisselskab.
Trods det globale flyveforbud, som MAX har været ramt i de seneste fire måneder, fortsætter Boeing produktionen af flytypen – om end for nedsat kraft. Men Boeing bygger fortsat 42 MAX-fly om måneden, og da flyene på grund af groundingen ikke kan leveres til de flyselskaber, der har bestilt dem, hober de nye fly sig op uden for fabrikken i Renton tæt på Seattle.
Ny bemaling
Billeder fra fabrikken i Renton – taget og postet på de sociale medier af Woodys Aeroimages – viser blandt andet spritnye Boeing 737 MAX-fly i Ryanair-bemaling. Og det interessante er, at de første fly til Ryanair, bærer MAX-navnet, mens det indtil videre femte og sidste fly i stedet bærer betegnelsen 737-8200.
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Det hører dog med til historien, at de 135 MAX-fly, som Ryanair indtil videre har bestilt hos Boeing, er specialudgaver af MAX 8, og at de hele tiden har haft tillægsbetegnelsen -200, så det komplette navn er Boeing 737 MAX 8-200.
Specialudgave af MAX
CHECK-IN.dk har tidligere beskrevet Ryanairs specialudgave i detaljer, men det der primært adskiller 737 MAX 8-200 fra den almindelige 737 MAX 8, er, at Ryanair-flyene er indrettet med hele 197 sæder.
Det er otte flere sæder, end de normale MAX 8-fly indrettes med i lavprisudgaven og ligeledes otte sæder mere end i Ryanairs nuværende 737-800-fly.
Med plads til så mange passagerer i MAX 8-flyet har Boeing været nødt til at udstyre flyet med to ekstra nødudgange, som er placeret mellem vingerne og de bagerste døre i det 39,5 meter lange fly.
Ifølge den britiske avis, The Guardian, har hverken Boeing eller Ryanair ønsket at kommentere på billederne. Hvad flyselskaberne i øvrigt vælger at skrive på deres fly er i øvrigt fuldkommen op til flyselskaberne – og dermed flyproducenten uvedkommende.
MAX måske først retur i 2020
Mens flyene hober sig op uden for fabrikken i Renton, spekuleres der fortsat på, hvornår Boeing er færdig med at opdatere software og pilottræning, så de amerikanske flyvesikkerhedsmyndigheder, FAA, kan gencertificere flytypen.
Flere flyselskaber har nu pillet MAX ud af deres trafikprogrammer helt indtil november, men ifølge den amerikanske avis, The Wall Street Journal, er det muligvis ikke nok. Avisen henviser til, at unavngivne kilder hos både FAA og pilotfagforeninger siger, at flyet først vil være tilbage på vingerne igen i begyndelsen af næste år.
Indtil videre har hverken FAA eller Boeing dog sat nogen former for officiel tidsfrist for, hvornår gencertificeringen kan forventes.
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