Air International 2020-03
M.Needham - MAX: Grounded, Confounded /Commercial/
With the Federal Aviation Administration issuing its grounding of the 737 MAX a fortnight before the start of the summer schedules in Europe, airlines scrambled to shore up capacity. Turkish carrier Corendon Airlines leased in Wamos Air 747-400s to ensure connections operated as usual.
The third Boeing 737 MAX 8 built, N8703J (c/n 42556), seen during its time as a test airframe. It is due to be delivered to Southwest Airlines once the type has been recertificated.
Air Canada has ferried 22 examples from its 24-strong fleet to Pinal Air Park, Arizona, for storage.
More than 250 airliners are currently stored at Grant County International Airport, Washington.
Dozens of 737 MAX examples are pictured in temporary storage at Boeing Field near Seattle.
Some airliners have been in storage at Boeing Field for almost 12 months. Among them are jets intended for carriers that have since cancelled their planned leases or, in the case of Jet Airways, have gone out of business.
Boeing had continued to manufacture 42 737s a month following the MAX's removal from service, but announced in December 2019 it would close the production line from mid-January.
The entire Southwest Airlines MAX fleet, totalling 34 examples, has been stored at Southern California Logistics Airport.
While more than 25 years have elapsed since an IAG carrier took delivery of a Boeing 737, a British Airways-liveried MAX 8 was delivered to South African franchisee Comair in February 2019.
International Consolidated Airlines Group's (IAG) Letter of Intent for 200 737 MAX jets accounted for almost 70% of Boeing's commercial airliner sales at the 2019 Paris Air Show.
The latest member of the Boeing 737 family, the MAX 10, was unveiled on November 22, 2019. It is unlikely to begin flight testing until the grounding order has been rescinded.
Spirit Aerosystems - one of Boeing's biggest suppliers - receives more than 50% of its revenue from the 737 MAX programme. It produces a range of components, including fuselage barrels, engine nacelles, thrust reversers and wing leading edges.
The liveries applied to a row of stored jets at Grant County International Airport in Washington highlights the grounding's global impact.
Unable to deliver its new airliners, Boeing's backlog quickly spilled over into staff carparks.
China is among the nations most affected - a dozen of its carriers have withdrawn aircraft from service, while 16 airlines are awaiting MAX deliveries.
Efforts to rectify issues with the Boeing 737 MAX has meant the company has further delayed a potential launch for its New Midsize Airplane. Meanwhile, Airbus has recorded almost 500 orders for its A321XLR offering since June.
Airbus’ newly launched A321XLR will have the longest range of any single aisle airliner.