Southwest schedules without Boeing 737 MAX until Nov. 2, freezes pilot hiring

Southwest joined US rivals Thursday in cancelling more flights until early November due to the continued grounding of Boeing’s 737 MAX, which has also prompted the low-cost carrier to freeze new pilot hiring. Southwest said Thursday it would schedule without the 737 MAX until Nov. 2, a decision that proactively removes about 180 daily flights from its schedule, more than the 150 daily flights it was removing through early October. With deliveries also on hold, Southwest has had to defer two new-hire pilot classes and two captain upgrade classes for existing pilots until it has more clarity, Southwest said. As of March 31, Southwest was expecting to take delivery of 34 additional MAX 8s and seven MAX 7s in 2019. It received three MAX 8 jets before the March 13 grounding by the US FAA, which must approve updated software and training by Boeing meant to ensure that the plane is safe to fly again. <br/>