Cancellations, rebookings and delays await after all Boeing 737 Max 8 flights are grounded, according to an expert.
On Wednesday alone, nearly 30 departures in Sweden will be affected.
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) announced Tuesday evening that all flights with the Boeing 737 Max 8 model will be halted following Sunday's crash in Ethiopia. The announcement came after several countries and airlines stopped using the aircraft model earlier in the day.
”"The consequences of this are very serious. It will have major consequences for travelers, many trips will be canceled," says aviation safety expert Hans Kjäll.
On Wednesday, 25 departures to and from Arlanda will be affected, mainly with Norwegian.
It is difficult to know how long flights will be stopped, says Hans Kjäll. He believes that within a couple of days we will have answers as to what caused the plane crash in Ethiopia, but it could take months before the investigation is fully completed and any errors have been corrected.
”This means that these aircraft can remain on the ground for a long time, practically mothballed,” he says.
And it's not just travelers who are affected. Reactions to the fatalities and flight suspension have caused Boeing's share price to fall sharply.
”Boeing is under heavy pressure, not least financially,” says Hans Kjäll.
350 aircraft of the model are already in use worldwide. At the same time, there are orders for 5,111 aircraft that have not yet been delivered. What warranty commitments the company has and what the consequences will be for the company in the longer term are currently unclear, according to Hans Kjäll.
”"But it will take time to make up for the loss. The pain will be long-lasting," he says.
Source: TT
