The Federal Aviation Administration lifted its 20-month order prohibiting the Boeing 737 Max from flying passengers Wednesday. Now airlines are thinking about how they want to integrate the beleaguered aircraft back into their fleets.
The two dominant carriers in Phoenix — American Airlines Group, Inc. and Southwest Airlines Co. — anticipate different timelines for reintroducing the aircraft.
American envisions the first 737 Max passenger flight before 2020 ends, while Southwest said the jet will enter its fleet later in 2021.
Both carriers anticipate significant training requirements for their pilots before the plane carries passengers again.