Airlines posted tributes Wednesday morning to recognize the 18th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 that killed thousands and changed the nation as well as how we think about air travel. American Airlines and United, which each had two planes hijacked that day, each posted messages on their Twitter accounts. In addition, United published a letter from CEO Oscar Munoz on its website remembering "colleagues, customers and every single victim of the terrorist attacks" on its website. Southwest also paid tribute via Twitter. "We remember their professionalism and heroism. We cherish their camaraderie and friendship," Munoz wrote. We carry with us the examples they set forth, especially in the heroism and bravery displayed by so many on that terrible day." Munoz's letter continued, "Above all, we understand a simple truth: While thousands of our fellow human beings lost their lives in New York City, Arlington and Shanksville, the attacks of September 11th were aimed at all people of peace and good will, everywhere. They were attacks on the values that make life worth living, as well as the shared purpose that make us proud of what we do as members of the United family: connecting people and uniting the world." United's tweet read, "Remembering and honoring, always" with a link to the blog post. American posted a simple statement honoring "the lives and legacies of our colleagues, family members and loved ones the world lost 18 years ago," adding, "Sept. 11, 2001 – we will never forget.<br/>
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The Boeing 787 Dreamliners once praised as “beautiful” by US President Donald Trump could become a casualty of his escalating trade war with China. The sparring between the two economic super-powers has injected new uncertainty into Boeing’s wide-body production and deliveries, particularly for jets like the 787 Dreamliner and the larger 777 that are popular with Chinese airlines, said Dennis Muilenburg, the planemaker’s CEO. “We’re still hopeful that a trade deal will be accomplished and that airplanes will be part of that,” Muilenburg said Wednesday at a Morgan Stanley conference. “But a lack of a trade deal does add risk to our wide-body skyline. So we’re paying close attention.” The carbon-fiber Dreamliner, Boeing’s most-advanced jetliner, is a critical source of cash as the manufacturer works with regulators to lift a grounding of the highly profitable 737 Max. But analysts wonder how long the Chicago-based company will be able to keep making 14 Dreamliners a month -- a record pace for twin-aisle jets -- as the 787’s order backlog dwindles amid waning wide-body demand. Boeing still has a few unfilled delivery slots for the 787 over the next two years and more openings in 2022, Jefferies analyst Sheila Kahyaoglu said in a Sept. 10 report. “Without an acceleration in order activity, we estimate rate could be cut in 2022 with a potential announcement in late 2020/early 2021,” she wrote. Muilenburg acknowledged that maintaining the current Dreamliner pace is “a risk area for us,” since Chinese orders figured into Boeing’s sales forecasts. About 17% of Dreamliner deliveries to date have gone to the People’s Republic, Kahyaoglu said.<br/>
Aviation authorities from around the world may not immediately follow the FAA's lead whenever the US agency decides to allow the Boeing 737 Max to fly again, Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg said Wednesday. Muilenburg said what others in the industry have been suggesting for some time, that the past practice of other nations' aviation regulators following the FAA's lead on a decision to certify an aircraft might not be the case this time. "I think a phased ungrounding of the airplane amongst regulators from around the world is a possibility," he said. Muilenburg said he believes that there is a "broad convergence," among the different regulators, and that "the FAA is working very hard to build that collaboration amongst the regulators and bring everyone along together." The aircraft was grounded after two fatal crashes that killed all 346 people on board. The second crash, of an Ethiopian Airlines jet minutes after it took off on March 10, brought swift action around the world to ground the 737s. By the time the FAA also decided to ground the plane on March 13, the US planes were the only ones still flying. In past groundings, such as the case of Boeing's 787 Dreamliner--which was grounded for several months in 2013 due to concerns about battery fires--all the different aviation authorities worldwide acted virtually simultaneously to allow it to fly again. A phased in recertification will cause problems, since most of the nearly 400 planes in service at the time of the grounding fly for non-US carriers. Southwest, American Airlines and United have fewer than 70 of the planes between them. Muilenburg said Boeing still hopes to get approval for the plane to fly early in the fourth quarter, which beings Oct. 1. But he said the question of "regulator alignment around the world" is the greatest risk to meeting that timeline.<br/>