American and Southwest Will Still Fly Boeing 737 Max as Airlines Ground Planes

American Airlines and Southwest Airlines will continue flying Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft as airlines and aviation authorities ground planes internationally after the Ethiopian Airlines crash that killed 157 people.Southwest Airlines has 34 of the aircraft in its fleet and orders for 219 more from Boeing. In a statement, the company said, "We remain confident in the safety and airworthiness of our fleet of more than 750 Boeing aircraft." A spokesperson for the airline added that the company is in contact with Boeing.American Airlines operates 24 of the aircraft in its fleet and didn't disclose how many it currently has ordered from Boeing. The two carriers are the largest operators of the aircraft model in the U.S.The airline has joined Southwest in assuring concerned travelers on Twitter and in public statements that it has full confidence in its planes and in its staff.  Continue reading...