Tag Archives: Boeing 737-9 MAX 9

United customers can now schedule COVID-19 tests and be automatically cleared for travel

United Airlines made this announcement:

Since the Travel-Ready Center launched in January, United customers have been able to easily access testing or vaccine requirements needed for travel destinations, upload completed testing results and vaccine records as well as have them verified, all within the United App. Today, the industry-leading digital platform gets even better as customers can now choose from more than 200 COVID-19 testing providers across the country, book appointments and receive confirmation whether their test results meet their destination’s requirements. Once the test is validated, customers will see a status indicator informing them that they are “travel-ready” and receive their mobile boarding pass. United is the only airline that offers its customers these services as part of an integrated experience within its app and website and since launch, the airline has processed more than 275,000 COVID-19 tests through the Travel-Ready Center.

“We continue to look for innovative solutions that make travel easier and safer for our customers and employees,” said United’s Chief Customer Officer Toby Enqvist. “This new feature enables customers to travel with confidence knowing they can quickly locate a testing provider if they need one, schedule an appointment and get the results they need – all within the United Travel-Ready Center experience.”

Interactive Travel Map

United customers will have access to more than 200 testing sites in the TrustAssure network, including testing sites within United’s hubs of Chicago, Houston, New York/Newark, Los Angeles and San Francisco as well as those located at many drug store and pharmacy chains. In the weeks and months ahead, the airline plans to expand availability to more U.S. cities, and add access to international testing sites for customers flying to the U.S. This process was designed with privacy in mind so that limited personal data is involved.

This new and updated ability to schedule a COVID-19 test and upload results directly within the Travel-Ready Center is just one of the many industry-first solutions United has introduced to make travel easier and safer during the pandemic. United was the first airline to offer COVID-19 tests to customers traveling from San Francisco to Hawaii, and the first to launch a free transatlantic COVID-19 testing pilot program for customers traveling from Newark to London. United also was the first domestic airline to require customers to perform a self-health assessment prior to flying.

Top Copyright Photo: United Airlines Boeing 737-9 MAX 9 N1800B (N27519) (msn 43459) BFI (Joe G. Walker). Image: 952214.

United Airlines aircraft slide show:

Alaska Airlines commits to carbon, waste and water goals for 2025, announces path to net zero by 2040

Alaska Airlines today announced its commitment and roadmap to reduce the company’s carbon emissions to net-zero by 2040, and commitments across carbon, waste, and water impacts by 2025. Today’s announcement included the release of Alaska’s 2020 LIFT Sustainability Report detailing the company’s broader climate change strategy, including waste and water initiatives.

Alaska, together with its regional subsidiary Horizon Air, identified the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions as the company’s most important opportunity for environmental action.

Alaska’s roadmap to 2040 includes five focus areas to decarbonize air travel by 2040 – fleet renewal, operational efficiency, sustainable aviation fuel, novel propulsion and high-quality carbon offsetting technology.

Alaska’s roadmap to 2040 includes five focus areas to reach net-zero emissions:

Fleet renewal
Operational efficiency
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
Novel propulsion
Credible, high-quality carbon offsetting technology

With a recent Boeing 737 MAX order, Alaska’s newest aircraft have 22% better fuel-efficiency on a seat-by-seat basis than the aircraft they replace. Alaska is a leader in using advanced technology to improve flight efficiency, and will continue to standardize best practices, and expand use of first-of-its-kind artificial intelligence and machine learning technology to plan optimize routes. As part of its near-term goals, the airline will cut in half emissions of its ground services equipment by 2025 through the purchase and use of electric ground equipment and other renewables.

Long-term plans for achieving net-zero emissions include expanding the market for SAF and exploring and advancing novel propulsion approaches that support electrification technology for regional flying, that are either not dependent on fossil fuels, or more efficient than current methods. And because aviation is one of the most difficult sectors to decarbonize, Alaska will also work with science and technical advisory Carbon Direct to identify and vet credible, high-quality carbon offsetting technologies to close any remaining gaps on the path to net-zero.

“After a difficult year, this is an exciting time for our company, as we return to growth while embedding sustainability even deeper in our culture, set bold goals and collaborate with innovative partners to keep our company, our communities, and our environment strong and healthy for the long term,” said Diana Birkett Rakow, Alaska Airlines’ vice president of public affairs and sustainability. “The pandemic sharpened the clarity of our purpose and led us a stronger path forward. But we also know we can’t do this alone and that we must work together with government, manufacturers, innovators and other industry partners to decarbonize aviation.”

Joining the Amazon Climate Pledge
As a result of its 2040 net-zero emissions strategy, Alaska Airlines today signed onto The Climate Pledge, a commitment to achieving net-zero-carbon 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement.

In addition, the company also announced five-year goals to reduce waste through more sustainable packaging and restarting industry-leading inflight recycling post-COVID, while offsetting 100% of its operational water use through investments in high-quality habitat projects.

22,000 employees engaged to help reduce climate impact
As a reflection of its importance, Alaska Airlines this year included a carbon emissions target in the incentive pay program for all 22,000 employees. Additionally, long-term executive compensation is now linked to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Top Copyright Photo: Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-9 MAX 9 N913AK (msn 44079) LAX (Michael B. Ing). Image: 953062.

Alaska Airlines aircraft slide show:

Boeing recommends operators of some 737 MAX airplanes temporarily remove them from service to address a potential electrical issue

Boeing has issued a recommendation to 16 customers (including American, Southwest and United) to remove and inspect certain Boeing 737 MAX aircraft due to a “potential electrical issue”. This is apparently due to a production issue when the aircraft were built.

The FAA issued this statement:

Boeing recommends operators of some 737 MAX airplanes temporarily remove them from service to address a potential electrical issue. The FAA will ensure the issue is addressed. Passengers should contact airlines about possible flight delays and cancellations.

Boeing issued this statement:

Boeing has recommended to 16 customers that they address a potential electrical issue in a specific group of 737 MAX airplanes prior to further operations. The recommendation is being made to allow for verification that a sufficient ground path exists for a component of the electrical power system.

We are working closely with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration on this production issue. We are also informing our customers of specific tail numbers affected and we will provide direction on appropriate corrective actions.

American Airlines has grounded 17 MAX aircraft.

Above Copyright Photo: American Airlines Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 N378SC (msn 44471) BFI (Joe G. Walker). Image: 952213.

Southwest Airlines has removed 30 of its 58 MAX aircraft for inspections.

Above Copyright Photo: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 N8701Q (msn 42554) PAE (Nick Dean). Image: 953439.

United Airlines has grounded 16 of its 30 MAX aircraft according to USA Today.

Above Copyright Photo: United Airlines Boeing 737-9 MAX 9 N1780B (N27520) (msn 64499) PAE (Nick Dean). Image: 951068.

Boeing and Alaska Airlines finalize order for 737 MAX jets

Boeing and Alaska Airlines have announced the companies have completed an agreement for 23 737-9 airplanes and 15 options. With this agreement, the carrier’s 737 MAX order book, including options and lease commitments, stands at 120 airplanes.

This deal was first announced in December 2020 as a commitment and will be reflected on Boeing’s Orders & Deliveries website.

Alaska Airlines received its first Boeing 737-9 in January and began revenue service on March 1. Its second 737-9 entered service on March 18, with two additional 737-9s scheduled to begin revenue service next week.

The airline is embarking on a fleet modernization program to further improve the efficiency and sustainability of its operations. The 737-9 – equipped with new, more fuel-efficient engines and improved aerodynamics – will use 20% less fuel and reduce emissions by 20% per seat compared to airplanes it replaces.

Alaska Airlines aircraft slide show:

Alaska Airlines inaugurates Boeing 737-9 MAX service

Alaska Airlines on March 1, 2021 inaugurated Boeing 737-9 MAX 9 into revenue service from the Seattle/Tacoma hub to San Diego.

Besides this route, Alaska Airlines will initially operate the new 737-9 MAX 9 between Seattle/Tacoma and Los Angeles.

Alaska’s second 737-9 MAX is expected to start service later in March.

Alaska Airlines commented on its plans to inaugurate the new type:

Teams from across various divisions at Alaska will now follow a strict readiness timeline that guides the actions that must be taken before the start of passenger flights. The process – involving rigorous rounds of test flying, verifying and specific preparations – will take five weeks:

Maintenance technicians will undergo training to become even more acquainted with the new aircraft. They will receive at least 40 hours of “differences training,” which distinguishes the variations between the new MAX and the airline’s existing 737 NG fleet. Certain technicians will receive up to 40 additional hours of specialized training focused on the plane’s engines and avionics systems.
Alaska’s pilots will put the 737-9 through its paces, flying it more than 50 flight hours and roughly 19,000 miles around the country, including to Alaska and Hawaii. These “proving flights” are conducted to confirm our safety assessments and those of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and to ensure a full understanding of the plane’s capabilities in different climates and terrain.
Our pilots will receive eight hours of MAX-specific, computer-based training prior to flying the aircraft over the course of two days, which includes at least two hours of training in Alaska’s own certified, state-of-the-art MAX flight simulator. That’s where they fly several maneuvers specific to the aircraft and better understand the improvements that have been made to the plane.

Alaska announced a restructured order agreement with Boeing in December 2020 to receive a total of 68 737-9 MAX aircraft in the next four years, with options for an additional 52 planes. The airline is scheduled to receive 13 planes this year; 30 in 2022; 13 in 2023; and 12 in 2024. The agreement incorporates Alaska’s announcement last November to lease 13 737-9 aircraft as part of a separate transaction.

These 68 aircraft will largely replace Alaska’s Airbus fleet.

Above Copyright Photo: Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-9 MAX 9 N915AK (msn 44080) PAE (Nick Dean). Image: 947423.

Video:

Alaska Airlines aircraft slide show (Current livery, Boeing):

United is moving its 14 Boeing 737-9 MAX jets to Goodyear, AZ for storage

United Airlines has announced it is moving its 14 Boeing 737-9 MAX 9 aircraft to desert storage in Goodyear, AZ (near Phoenix).

The move should be completed by mid September.

United previously cancelled all revenue flights of the type in its schedule through November 3 (now extended to December 19). This is likely to be extended as the type remains grounded (except for ferry flights).

United Airlines aircraft photo gallery (Boeing, current):

CNBC: United CEO says he’s not sure travelers will want to fly a Boeing 737 MAX

From CNBC:

“United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz on Thursday said he’s under no assumption that all passengers will feel comfortable flying on a Boeing 737 MAX plane anytime soon.”

“We will be incredibly communicative to all our customers and very transparent when that aircraft comes back,” Munoz told CNBC’s Phil LeBeau at New York’s LaGuardia airport, where the carrier is opening up a new terminal. Munoz added, “The first and foremost objective is to not assume everyone will want to fly, or assume everyone will get over it.”

Read the full story and video.

United Airlines extends Boeing 737 MAX cancellations into August

United Airlines has announced it will extend all cancellations in its schedule of the Boeing 737-9 MAX 9 through August 9.

The company has grounded its 14 MAX 9s which translates to about 40-45 cancelled flights on a daily basis.

United Airlines’ CEO Oscar Munoz says he will be on the first Boeing 737 MAX flight once it is cleared by regulators

https://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-USA6/United-Airlines-NC-Boeing/i-v8VgB9N/A

United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz stated at the company’s annual meeting on Wednesday he will be on the first revenue flight once his fleet of Boeing 737-9 MAX 9s are cleared again by the regulators.

Photo: United Airlines.

346 people have died in two crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia.

Top Copyright Photo: United Airlines Boeing 737-9 MAX 9 N47517 (msn 43456) BFI (Joe G. Walker). Image: 946583.

United Airlines aircraft slide show (Boeing):

United expects its MAX jets to fly again this summer, deliveries resuming before the end of 2019

https://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-USA6/United-Airlines-NC-Boeing/i-Rg8S4Pv/A

From Reuters:

United Airlines expects Boeing Co’s grounded 737 MAX jets to return to service this summer, with deliveries resuming before the end of the year, an executive said on Wednesday, reassuring investors concerned about a prolonged suspension.

The 737 MAX was grounded worldwide in March following two fatal crashes, forcing Boeing to freeze deliveries. Boeing is under pressure to upgrade the software and convince global regulators that the plane is safe to fly again, a process expected to take at least 90 days.

Chicago-based United, which is part of United Continental Holdings Inc, removed its 14 MAX aircraft from its flying schedule through early July, while U.S. competitors that own the MAX have planned their flying schedules without the aircraft into August.

United has another 16 MAX orders scheduled for delivery this year.

“The aircraft scheduled for delivery this year, we would expect to take this year,” Chief Financial Officer Gerald Laderman said on a first-quarter conference call.

Top Copyright Photo: United Airlines Boeing 737-9 MAX 9 N37502 (msn 43431) LAX (Michael B. Ing). Image: 945353.

United Airlines aircraft slide show: