A review of Boeing’s 737 MAX jets has expanded to include emergency procedures used by pilots on earlier 737 models, further delaying the MAX’s return to service, according to US govt officials. The FAA hasn’t questioned the safety of older jets currently in service, these officials said, but the broadened review has become a significant factor in adding months to the time expected to get the grounded fleet of 737 MAX jets back in the air. As part of the FAA’s safety analysis of a proposed software fix for the MAX fleet, these officials said, the agency also is considering changes in how pilots of the entire 737 family are trained to respond when the flight-control computer or other systems erroneously push the plane’s nose down. That includes the 737 NG—some 6,300 of which are used by more than 150 airlines globally. <br/>
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More than 1,000 Airline executives will gather in the Seoul next weekend for IATA's general meeting. Many IATA members have a degree of protection from turbulence thanks to deep pockets, airline alliances, sheer size, or national loyalty. But the big issues to be discussed in Seoul may still keep some executives awake at night. Globally, the industry is still turning a profit. It is on course for a 10th straight year of positive returns, after racking up losses in the financial crisis. Jet fuel is still far cheaper than the US$120-plus per barrel airlines had to pay until 2013 but, bar a sharp plunge in late 2018, the price is heading upwards. European carriers in particular are looking shaky, with a combined loss in early 2019 10 times worse than last year’s Q1 – although the collapse of smaller airlines may allow survivors to increase fares. <br/>
The leadership of the US Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee is growing increasingly concerned about TSA’s plans to divert hundreds of transportation security officers and federal air marshals to assist hundreds of Customs and Border Protection officers already stationed at the Southwest border to address a surge of migrants there. May 23, they also registered strong opposition to recent reports that the agency plans to divert US$232m from TSA’s FY2019 budget to fund border operations—money Congress intended to fund the acquisition of advanced airport screening equipment and provide compensation to TSA employees who get injured on the job. “Deployment of FAMs would significantly diminish operational capacity,” the committee said. <br/>
The summer travel season is poised to inflict pain on both US airlines and fliers. A record 257m people are expected to fly with US airlines this summer, according to A4A. Those travellers will likely have to deal with the fallout from multiple challenges weighing on the nation’s air travel network, including the extended grounding of Boeing 737 MAX jets, runway closures and labour shortages. Anticipating major logistical hurdles, airlines are rushing to make alternate arrangements. Some of the busiest airports, from New York to Los Angeles, are undergoing construction work, including on runways. Labour disputes involving airline maintenance staff have been heating up, exacerbating staff shortages caused by the tight job market. And US carriers will operate this summer without about 100 737 MAX jets they had counted on. <br/>
The number of flights operating in UK airspace is expected to hit a record high Friday as more than 9,000 planes take to the skies on the same day as schoolchildren around the world stage a climate strike. The spike in British flights is down to a combination of factors, including the bank holiday weekend, the Monaco Grand Prix and the close of the Cannes film festival. There is also a significant rise in the number of private jets scheduled to fly to and from the French Riviera. The previous high came at the same time a year ago, with 8,854 flights, and air traffic controllers expect the numbers to increase again next week. The anticipated record day is taking place as more than 100 school climate demonstrations are staged in the UK. Aviation is one of the fastest-growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions. <br/>
The grounding of the troubled Boeing 737 Max will rack up losses of CNY4b (US$579m) for Chinese carriers by the end of June. The China Air Transport Association says the 737 Max’s grounding has led to “significant losses” that look set to grow should the aircraft remain grounded. It adds that it will support its member airlines’ compensation claims, and called on Boeing to “attach great importance” to these claims, and resolve them “reasonably”. “China's [airlines] are the largest user of the [737 Max], and we are also the biggest loser from this incident,” the association says. Chinese carriers operate 97 737 Max aircraft in total. China was the first country to ground the 737 Max. No date has been fixed on when the aircraft type will return to service. <br/>