American Airlines says it “expects” to resume service with its B737 Max fleet from mid-January.
The carrier’s latest updated regarding the grounded aircraft said that it “anticipates that the impending software updates to the Boeing 737 Max will lead to recertification of the aircraft later this year and resumption of commercial service in January 2020”.
AA has given a date of January 16, 2020 for the expected return to service of the aircraft, although it added that it expects to “slowly phase in the Max for commercial service and will increase flying on the aircraft throughout the month and into February”.
Boeing’s Max aircraft are currently grounded worldwide, following two fatal crashes involving the jets.
The US carrier had previously cancelled B737 Max flights up to December 3, and in July said that the grounding of the aircraft will impact its pre-tax profits for this year by approximately $400 million.
Fellow US carrier Southwest Airlines has already removed the B737 Max aircraft from its schedules until January 5, 2020.
AA said that customers booked to fly on B737 Max aircraft through until January 6, will be accommodated on B737-800 aircraft with the same seat configuration.
From January 7 through until January 15, customers will be accommodated “on the same flight operated by a different aircraft type, which may include a 737-800 or an Airbus aircraft”.
The carrier said that its reservations and sales team will contact any customers who are impacted by potential flight cancellations.
AA also said that it will release policies and procedures in the coming weeks, “for customers who do not wish to fly on the Max once the aircraft enters scheduled service”.