US government shutdown holds up FAA approval of aircraft, routes

FAA approval of aircraft such as Boeing’s MAX and new routes like Southwest Airline’s Hawaii launch are on hold due to the US government shutdown, delaying commercial operations. On Monday, Southwest said its plans to launch service to Hawaii early this year are on hold because the FAA groups that oversee the route authorization process are on furlough. Southwest said it will not announce any timelines for selling or operating flights to Hawaii until it receives the necessary authorisation. A partial US government shutdown over President Donald Trump’s demand for $5.7b to build a wall along the US-Mexico border entered its 24th day on Monday. The partial government shutdown is also affecting the certification program for US business jet maker Gulfstream Aerospace’s new G600 corporate plane, along with other “facets of our business,” a company spokeswoman said on Monday by email. Gulfstream had previously expected to obtain FAA certification or approval for the G600 by late 2018. Meanwhile, American Airlines Group said it has taken delivery of two new MAX 8, but the planes are sitting idle in Tulsa, Oklahoma awaiting FAA approvals required for commercial operation. A spokesman for United said the carrier is waiting for FAA service to be restored so it can enter one 737 MAX 9 and one used Airbus A319 into service. <br/>