Southwest will retain 'Max' moniker when grounding lift

Renaming the Boeing 737 Max is off the table at Southwest Airlines. In an effort to be transparent with customers, the carrier has chosen to retain the "Max" handle when the type returns to the skies, says chief revenue officer Andrew Watterson. Just when that might happen remains unknown, though Boeing is aiming for Q4. But Watterson notes Southwest's ability to get aircraft back in the skies depends not only on the regulatory approval, but also the pace at which Boeing can deliver hundreds of jets currently sitting in storage. "We will not change the name of the aircraft. That would be disingenuous," Watterson said Speculation has abounded that airlines may feel compelled to drop the "Max" moniker so as to avoid reminding customers of the type's troubled past. <br/>