Boeing 737 Max set to return to US skies

Boeing’s 737 Max is scheduled to carry American passengers for the first time on Tuesday, two years after issues with the jet’s operating system led to multiple fatal crashes and a worldwide grounding. 

American Airlines will use the jet on a round trip from New York City to Miami this week, CNN reported, after federal aviation officials approved the plane’s safety following two crashes in a span of eight months that killed more than 300 people.

In October of 2018, a 737 Max flight in Indonesia crashed due to an error with the plane’s computerized flight control system, killing all 189 people on board. In March of 2019, a second 737 Max crashed in Ethiopia due to a similar issue and led to the jet’s grounding across the globe.  

More than half of respondents in a new Reuters-Ipsos poll said they were not likely to fly in a Boeing 737 Max once they were informed of its issues, with another 34 percent saying they would wait six months or so before boarding one. 

Two other U.S. airliners own the 737 Max, United and Southwest, but have not revealed any plans to return the jet to the skies, CNN reported. 

Earlier this month, American Airlines CEO Doug Parker flew with his family on board a 737 Max in an effort to increase public confidence in the jet.

The airline industry has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, with daily travel rates plummeting amid the ongoing public health and financial crisis. 

Still, U.S. airports reported an uptick in traffic over the holiday weekend despite warnings from public health officials to stay home.