US airlines are planning to resume Boeing 737 Max flights in detail

Last week the Federal Aviation Administration revoked the 20-month grounding order on the Boeing 737 Max. Although the decision formally authorizes the airliner to return to passenger service in the United States, airlines still need to complete two steps before they can resume Max flights: they must retrain pilots in simulators and make FAA-mandated updates to the MCAS flight control system blamed for two accidents in 2018 and 2019 that killed 346 people.

Both of these steps will take time, but the three US airlines currently operating the 737 Max have already announced when they intend to add the aircraft back to their fleets. With Max passenger flights scheduled before the end of the year, American Airlines will be the first, followed by United and Southwest in early 2021 (Alaska Airlines has ordered the plane and will begin receiving its planes next year).

At least for now, American, United and Southwest will allow passengers who do not want to fly the Max to change flights without penalty. If you are nervous about flying the Max, your aircraft type will be listed in your flight details during your booking. It will typically be listed under “Flight Details”, which may require an additional click. Some airlines will write the full aircraft name as “737 Max”, while other carriers may abbreviate it to “7M8”. If you are unsure, contact a booking agent to confirm.

American

American will resume 737 Max service on December 29 with one return flight per day between New York LaGuardia and Miami. After January 4, 2021, more Max flights will be added, “with a maximum of 36 departures from our Miami hub depending on the day of the week”.

Maintenance crews will inspect each aircraft and pilots will take each Max aircraft on a test flight.

Pilots will need to complete computer-based training, classroom briefings, and simulator time.

The airline says customers who don’t want to fly the 737 Max won’t have to. Instead, “we will provide flexibility to ensure they can be easily re-entered.”

Southwest

The Max will return in the second quarter of 2021.

Southwest will perform maintenance checks on each Max aircraft, and its flight operations team will conduct test flights with each aircraft multiple times.

All airline pilots will undergo simulator training (Southwest claims they now have nine 737 Max simulators) and full computer-based sessions of Max procedures and operations.

If you don’t want to fly on one of the airline’s 737 Max 8s, you can rebook a flight on a 737-700 or 737-800 (older 737 versions that do not use MCAS and have never been affected by grounding) without paying a fare difference (if the cities of origin and destination are the same). But, the airline warns, the new flight could eventually be on a Max 8 if Southwest changes equipment at the last minute. Alternatively, customers can get a full refund or credit for future travel depending on the type of ticket.

United

The Max will return in the first quarter of next year.

Testers will conduct several test flights on each of the airline’s 737 Max aircraft, and maintenance crews will perform end-to-end reviews that include system checks and data readings.

Before they can resume passenger flights, United 737 Max pilots will need to complete computerized instructions, the simulator, and review a manual with a systems briefing and checklist.

If you do not wish to fly on a Max aircraft, you will receive a free rebooking or refund.

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