Turkish Airlines grounds its Boeing 737 MAX fleet

Turkish Airlines is suspending all Boeing 737 MAX operations after today due to safety concerns after the Ethiopian Airlines crash.

The Turkish MAX fleet will be idle starting on March 13, 2019. Turkish has 11 MAX 8s and one MAX 9.

Turkey’s Transport and Infrastructure Ministry has announced all MAX operations in Turkey are suspended until further notice.

Top Copyright Photo (all others by Boeing): Turkish Airlines Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 TC-LCN (msn 60056) PAE (Nick Dean). Image: 945930.

Turkish Airlines aircraft slide show:

Air Italy grounds its three Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 aircraft

Following the European Union announcement closing European airspace to all MAX 8 and MAX 9 aircraft, Air Italy has made this announcement:

As an airline, the safety and security of our passengers and crew is always our first and key priority. With regard to the Boeing 737 MAX 8, all three of our MAX 8 aircraft are being grounded in compliance with the directive issued by ENAC this evening.

As stated previously, all aircraft that we operate are always in full compliance with the regulators’ instructions and manufacturer’s operating procedures. Air Italy will continue to be in constant dialogue with the authorities and Boeing with regard to our Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft and will follow all directives to continue to ensure the maximum level of safety and security for our passengers and crew.

With respect to our ongoing operations, Air Italy will re-protect all passengers.

Top Copyright Photo (all others by the airline): Air Italy (3rd) Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 EI-GGL (msn 64607) PAE (Nick Dean). Image: 943947.

Air Italy (3rd) aircraft slide show:

Poll:

EASA suspends all Boeing 737 MAX operations in Europe, a total shutdown

Europe is now closed to all Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 and Boeing 737-9 MAX 9 operations. EASA has issued this statement:

Following the tragic accident of Ethiopian Airlines flight ET302 involving a Boeing 737 MAX 8, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is taking every step necessary to ensure the safety of passengers.

As a precautionary measure, EASA has published today (March 12) an Airworthiness Directive, effective as of 19:00 UTC, suspending all flight operations of all Boeing Model 737-8 MAX and 737-9 MAX airplanes in Europe. In addition EASA has published a Safety Directive, effective as of 19:00 UTC, suspending all commercial flights performed by third-country operators into, within or out of the EU of the above mentioned models.

The accident investigation is led by the Ethiopian Authorities with the support of the National Transportation Safety Board, as the aircraft was designed and built in the United States. EASA has offered their assistance in supporting the accident investigation.

EASA is continuously analysing the data as it becomes available. The accident investigation is currently ongoing, and it is too early to draw any conclusions as to the cause of the accident.

LOT Polish Airlines grounds its Boeing 737-8 MAX 8s

LOT Polish Airlines has decided to ground its five Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 airplanes until further notice.

Top Copyright Photo: LOT Polish Airlines Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 N6067U (SP-LVF) (msn 43320) BFI (Steve Bailey). Image: 944675.

LOT Polish Airlines aircraft slide show:

Icelandair Group suspends operation of three Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft

Icelandair Group issued this statement:

Icelandair Group has decided to temporarily suspend operations of its three Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft until further notice.

The Company will follow any further developments closely, working with local, European, and American authorities regarding next steps. Based on the available information, Icelandair’s thorough safety processes and the training of its crew, the Company is confident in the safety of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.

In the short term, this decision will not have a material impact on the Company’s operations since it only affects 3 passenger aircraft of a total fleet of 33, which creates flexibility to respond in the coming weeks.

Top Copyright Photo (all others by the airline): Icelandair Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 TF-ICY (msn 44354) LGW (Antony J. Best). Image: 944338.

Icelandair aircraft slide show:

Countries that are now banning the Boeing 737-8 MAX 8

The following countries are now banning the Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 from their airspace. We will endeavor to keep this list up to date until Boeing and the FAA rectify the situation.

Australia

Austria

Canada

China

Egypt

Ethiopia

European Union (all of Europe)

Fiji

France

Germany

Iceland

India

Indonesia

Ireland

Italy

Lebanon

Malaysia

Netherlands

New Zealand

Oman

Panama

Poland

Singapore

South Korea

Turkey

United Arab Emirates (UAE)

United Kingdom

United States

Bloomberg: Lion Air considers a switch to Airbus, its 10 Boeing 737-8 MAX 8s are grounded

Lion Air is planning to cancel its large Boeing 737 MAX order and switch to Airbus according to a report by Bloomberg.

A rift has developed between Lion Air founder Rusdi Kirana and Boeing over Boeing’s reaction to the tragic October 29, 2018 Lion Air MAX 8 crash. Boeing pointed to maintenance issues and possible pilot error as a possible reason for the crash while growing evidence indicates a faulty sensor took over the computerized system of the aircraft.

Lion Air issued this statement on the grounding of its Boeing 737-8 MAX 8s:

In connection with a circular from the Director General of Civil Aviation of the Ministry of Transportation regarding temporary grounding of Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, Lion Air states that it will temporarily suspend its 10 (ten) Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.

Lion Air is considering a large order for the Airbus A321neo.

Meanwhile Lion Air has cancelled for MAX deliveries this year.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Top Copyright Photo: Lion Air (PT Lion Mentari Airlines) Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 PK-LQF (msn 42990) DPS (Pascal Simon). Image: 945950.

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APFA issues this statement to American CEO Doug Parker

The Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) National President Lori Bassani issued the following updated statement on Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash and the 737 MAX 8:

“Our Flight Attendants are very concerned with the recent Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 crash, which has raised safety concerns with the 737 MAX 8. Many respected global carriers are grounding the planes. We are calling on our CEO Doug Parker to strongly consider grounding these planes until a thorough investigation can be performed. While we cannot draw premature conclusions, it is critical to work with manufacturers, regulators and airlines to take steps to address our important safety concerns. The safety of our crews and passengers is paramount. Our flight attendants will not be forced to fly if they feel unsafe. Our condolences go out to the family and loved ones of crew and passengers who perished aboard Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to Nairobi, Kenya.”

Norwegian suspends flights with Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, following recommendations by European aviation authorities

Norwegian has issued this statement:

Following the decision by the relevant aviation regulatory bodies to temporarily suspend operations of Boeing 737 MAX, Norwegian will not operate any flights with this aircraft type until further notice. We remain in close dialogue with the aviation authorities and Boeing, and follow their instructions and recommendations.

Norwegian has more than 110 Boeing 737–800 aircraft in its fleet, which are not affected by this temporary suspension.

We would like to apologize to customers who will be affected by temporary cancellations and delays, but the safety and security of our customers and colleagues will never be compromised, and once authorities advise to cease operations we will of course comply.

Tomas Hesthammer, Norwegian’s acting Chief Operating Officer said:: “In response to the temporary suspension of Being 737 MAX operations by multiple aviation authorities we have taken the decision to not operate flights using this aircraft type, until advised otherwise by the relevant aviation authorities. We would like to apologize to customers for any inconvenienced caused, however, safety will always remain our top priority.”

Norwegian has 18 Boeing 737 MAX 8 in its fleet today. The total order of these aircraft is 110.

Norwegian followed-up with the additional statement:

All aircraft that are currently airborne will continue to destination or return to home base. We are now working on re-allocating our fleet options with other aircraft types, re-bookings to other flights and combining flights to minimise inconvenience caused for our passengers. We would like to apologise to customers who are affected, but the safety and security of our customers and colleagues will never be compromised. Affected passengers will be informed via SMS and our web pages.

Top Copyright Photo: Norwegian.com (Norwegian Air International) (Ireland) Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 EI-FYI (msn 42834) (Arthur Collins, American radio communications pioneer) LGW (Antony J. Best). Image: 943737.

Norwegian (Ireland) aircraft slide show:

France’s DGAC civil aviation authority bans Boeing 737 MAX aircraft from French airspace

The Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGAC) (France) has issued this statement:

“French airline companies do not have Boeing 737 MAX in their fleets. Nevertheless, given the circumstances of the accident in Ethiopia, the French authorities took the decision, as a precautionary measure, to prohibit any commercial flight carried out on a Boeing 737 MAX to, from, or over French territory.”