The Most Important Story in Airlines in 2021
Photo Credit: Airlines were relying on the Boeing 737 Max's grounding to end as they plotted their post-pandemic futures. Boeing
Skift Take
The Boeing 737 Max returned to flight, ending a 20-month grounding that started in 2019 after two fatal accidents. Most people didn't even notice, and that's just how the airlines and Boeing wanted it. Despite that, the aircraft is a crucial piece of hardware that airlines are relying on to help them climb out of the pandemic.
Sometimes the daily news cycle, even in a specialized beat like the airlines, can cloud what really is the most important story in the industry, especially in a year still upended by the pandemic. Sure, vaccine mandates, and the ever-elusive return of business travel are important to cover. But the most important, the one that will have the longest-lasting impact on the industry as it climbs out of the pandemic is the resolution of a story that started before Covid-19: The Boeing 737 Max.
The plane had just returned to the skies in the U.S. and a few select countries at the beginning of the year. In fact, there were only 46 Max-operated flights globally on January 1, 2021 — a fraction of 1 percent of global flight activity — according to Cirium schedules. And that left airlines with a lot of unknowns: Would travelers return to the jet? And, could carriers bet on aircraft for their planned summer schedules and ambitious climate goals?
A bit of a refresher. Th
