Boeing 737 Max: Losses mount as Saudi airline cancels order and switches to Airbus

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel...-a8995566.html

After two fatal crashes involving the Boeing 737 Max, another prospective
customer has cancelled a multi-billion-dollar order for the jet.

In December 2018 the Saudi budget airline, Flyadeal, signed a deal with Boeing
worth up to $6bn for 30 of the latest version of the 737 – with an option for 20
more. But the airline has switched the order to Boeing's rival, Airbus, with a
new agreement for the the same number of A320 Neo aircraft.

“This order will result in Flyadeal operating an all-Airbus A320 fleet in the
future,” the airline said. Deliveries will begin in 2021.

The first Boeing 737 Max to crash was Lion Air JT610, shortly after take-off
from Jakarta on 29 October 2018. All 189 passengers and crew died.

But on 10 March 2019, an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max crashed shortly after
departure from Addis Ababa, killing all 157 people onboard.

In both crashes, it is believed a faulty “angle of attack” sensor triggered the
anti-stall system, known as MCAS. The software forced the nose of the aircraft
down despite the pilots’ efforts to keep the plane flying.

All Boeing 737 Max jets were grounded worldwide shortly after the Ethiopian
Airlines crash. Boeing is currently working on safety improvements, and it is
thought unlikely that the plane will be in passenger service before the end of
the year.

Airlines including Ryanair, Norwegian and Tui Airways had intended to be flying
the planes from the UK this summer.

The planemaker is continuing to build the jets. In a statement to the Associated
Press, Boeing said: “We wish the Flyadeal team well as it builds out its
operations.

“Our team continues to focus on safely returning the 737 Max to service and
resuming deliveries of Max airplanes.”




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