Business travellers express nerves over return of 737 Max
More than 80% of business travel managers are concerned about flying on the Boeing 737 Max and two-thirds think their employees might change travel plans to avoid the aircraft even after it has been deemed safe to return to the skies, according to a new poll. The survey, conducted by the US-based Global Business Travel Association for the Financial Times, is one of several recent opinion polls aimed at gauging passengers’ views of the plane, which has crashed twice since October, claiming 346 lives. Passenger attitudes could be central to determining the final cost of the 737 Max crisis to Boeing, its airline customers and suppliers. The attitude of business flyers, in particular, could be critical because they contribute a large proportion of major carrier revenues. It remains unclear when the 737 Max, a newer variant of the decades-old 737, will return to the skies following its grounding in March. Airlines around the world are beginning to consider how best to reassure passengers when the aircraft comes back into service. Boeing has said that restoring the trust of the flying public is one of its biggest challenges. The GBTA poll of travel managers found that 38% were personally “very concerned” and 43% “somewhat concerned” about travelling on a Max, while 19% said they thought their employees were “very likely” to book away from the Max, with 48% saying this was “somewhat likely”. Collectively GBTA’s members manage more than $345b of global business travel and meetings expenditures annually. The association received survey answers from 155 members contacted between June 7 and 11.<br/>
https://portal.staralliance.com/cms/news/hot-topics/2019-06-14/general/business-travellers-express-nerves-over-return-of-737-max
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Business travellers express nerves over return of 737 Max
More than 80% of business travel managers are concerned about flying on the Boeing 737 Max and two-thirds think their employees might change travel plans to avoid the aircraft even after it has been deemed safe to return to the skies, according to a new poll. The survey, conducted by the US-based Global Business Travel Association for the Financial Times, is one of several recent opinion polls aimed at gauging passengers’ views of the plane, which has crashed twice since October, claiming 346 lives. Passenger attitudes could be central to determining the final cost of the 737 Max crisis to Boeing, its airline customers and suppliers. The attitude of business flyers, in particular, could be critical because they contribute a large proportion of major carrier revenues. It remains unclear when the 737 Max, a newer variant of the decades-old 737, will return to the skies following its grounding in March. Airlines around the world are beginning to consider how best to reassure passengers when the aircraft comes back into service. Boeing has said that restoring the trust of the flying public is one of its biggest challenges. The GBTA poll of travel managers found that 38% were personally “very concerned” and 43% “somewhat concerned” about travelling on a Max, while 19% said they thought their employees were “very likely” to book away from the Max, with 48% saying this was “somewhat likely”. Collectively GBTA’s members manage more than $345b of global business travel and meetings expenditures annually. The association received survey answers from 155 members contacted between June 7 and 11.<br/>
