A Boeing executive attending the Singapore Airshow recently lauded the 737 Max as “the safest airplane” amid ongoing scrutiny surrounding the aircraft. Dave Schulte, Boeing’s commercial marketing managing director for the Asia-Pacific region, made these remarks, acknowledging the intense scrutiny the 737 Max has faced throughout the history of aviation.
Despite recent negative headlines, particularly involving an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 flight that experienced a door panel incident, Schulte emphasized the 737 Max’s safety, stating that it is currently the safest airplane in operation. The incident occurred during Alaska Airlines Flight 1282’s journey from Portland, Oregon, to Ontario, California, resulting in an emergency landing due to a ripped-off door panel and depressurization of the cabin. Fortunately, all 171 passengers and six crew members on board were unharmed, and the plane landed safely.
In response to the incident, Alaska Airlines temporarily grounded its entire Boeing 737-9 fleet, prompting the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to ground 171 Boeing MAX 9 planes with similar panels. This panel, weighing about 60 pounds and covering an unused exit door, led to concerns about the safety of the aircraft.
Following these events, Boeing faced additional challenges, including the departure of the head of its 737 Max program, Ed Clark. Several airlines also expressed intentions to explore alternatives beyond Boeing’s 737 Max planes.
The negative developments had a notable impact on consumer behavior, with a surge in travelers avoiding Boeing 737 Max flights. The search engine Kayak reported a 15-fold increase in the use of a filter on its site, allowing users to exclude Boeing Max flights from their search results.
Despite the challenging circumstances, Schulte sought to reassure the public, sharing his recent positive experience flying on a 737 Max aircraft one week prior. Notably, Boeing did not have any of its commercial airplanes on display at the Singapore Airshow.
source: Travelpulse.com