Icelandair not expecting 737 Max return before May 2020

Icelandair Group’s pessimism over the Boeing 737 Max’s return to service has deepened, with the company disclosing that it does not expect to re-introduce the twinjet before May next year. The company says the delay will have “minimum impact” on Icelandair’s flight schedule and its passengers, because the carrier has been coping without the Max for several months since the type was grounded in March. Icelandair will retain more Boeing 757s in its fleet over the course of 2020 than it had originally planned, in order to make up for the shortfall in Max capacity. It is also leasing a pair of 737-800s, to support its operations from next spring, and is “working on” leasing a third aircraft. Icelandair Group said is continuing discussions with Boeing over compensation for financial losses caused by the Max delays. <br/>