Southwest’s new 737 Max lags in on-time flights in first month
Southwest's new 737 Max jets will offer the latest and greatest in flying efficiency from Boeing -- at least once all the kinks are worked out. In its first month of flying, the 10 Max planes in Southwest's fleet ranked behind its more seasoned aircraft for on-time performance. While the hiccups weren't serious, they served as a reminder of the challenges in putting a new aircraft into commercial service. The smallest details can add minutes: The Max nose gear is eight inches taller, so ramp workers have to fetch a step stool to connect the plane to ground power at the gate. The jet bridge has to be readjusted to eliminate gap. And new procedures are needed for everything from pre-flight checks to parking the plane. Airlines will be watching Southwest's experience carefully, because tardiness at the gate can boost costs.<br/>
https://portal.staralliance.com/cms/news/hot-topics/2017-11-15/unaligned/southwest2019s-new-737-max-lags-in-on-time-flights-in-first-month
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Southwest’s new 737 Max lags in on-time flights in first month
Southwest's new 737 Max jets will offer the latest and greatest in flying efficiency from Boeing -- at least once all the kinks are worked out. In its first month of flying, the 10 Max planes in Southwest's fleet ranked behind its more seasoned aircraft for on-time performance. While the hiccups weren't serious, they served as a reminder of the challenges in putting a new aircraft into commercial service. The smallest details can add minutes: The Max nose gear is eight inches taller, so ramp workers have to fetch a step stool to connect the plane to ground power at the gate. The jet bridge has to be readjusted to eliminate gap. And new procedures are needed for everything from pre-flight checks to parking the plane. Airlines will be watching Southwest's experience carefully, because tardiness at the gate can boost costs.<br/>
