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Boeing's upgraded 737 Max completes first flight with media onboard

reuters.com

21–30 of 290 posts

Re: Boeing's upgraded 737 Max completes first flight with media onboard

#21
post #7

I recently had the frivolous idea of creating a flight search engine for flights that DID NOT use the 737 Max. Any actual interest in this?

I'd use it when the pandemic is over. Zero confidence in Boeing. In general I think a prosumer-oriented flight search engine would do well. Something like ITA Matrix, before Google absorbed it into Google Flights.

I have no illusions I could easily create anything on the level of complexity of ITA (super impressive team/product). If I were to do this, it'd be a layer on top of some flight API doing the heavy lifting.

Re: Boeing's upgraded 737 Max completes first flight with media onboard

#23
post #3

"In another display of confidence, European budget airline Ryanair was set to place a hefty order for up to 75 additional 737 MAX jets, industry sources said." A Ryanair spokesperson said "It's the first time we've ever been offered a discount in excess of 100%"

Discount in excess of 100%? So they were paid to brake them? Makes sense for Ryan to start doing negative prices for their flights. Making profit on the bus fare into city and baggage fees.

That quote wasn't in the article... I suspect OP was joking, but even if they had been given a massive discount, I'm sure the contract prevents them from telling anyone else the terms...

Re: Boeing's upgraded 737 Max completes first flight with media onboard

#24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>I assume Boeing is desperate to sell these. Or is there something about these planes that makes them unsuitable. It's not like Boeing has a warehouse of 737-MAX's sitting around. They are ordered and delivered as they are finished.

Boeing has a years long backlog of orders. https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/boein... .

Interesting - so the airlines that didn't cancel just assumed that they were far enough down the list that Boeing would figure it out and passengers would forget? I'd be asking for a discount for sure - especially since commercial airlines are hurting for cash.

Re: Boeing's upgraded 737 Max completes first flight with media onboard

#25

Given the recent news about delivery services (UPS, Fedex, Amazon) having constraints on capacity this would be a great time for them to invest in some planes. I assume Boeing is desperate to sell these. Or is there something about these planes that makes them unsuitable.

They'd have to be retrofitted to be capable of loading and unloading cargo similarly to typical air freighters. The standard passenger entry/exit portals are not big enough to move large pallets on the plane.

Re: Boeing's upgraded 737 Max completes first flight with media onboard

#26
post #6

In a weird way, having the Max grounded during 2020 turned out to be lucky timing on Boeing's part. The airlines slowdown due to COVID likely gave them some serious breathing room while they got their shit together. Now hopefully they actually did get their shit together.

I think I disagree. If they’d taken the time to scrap the 737 Max and move to a new design, they’d have had the time and the public would have eaten the new product up. Instead, they doubled down and are now going to try to have to sell a product that many will refuse to ever fly on, myself included.

A new plane design takes years from inception to first revenue flight. Early development of the 787 started in 2003, first revenue flight wasn't until 2011. And then we all remember when it spent a couple months grounded in 2013.

Re: Boeing's upgraded 737 Max completes first flight with media onboard

#27

Maybe they should have bit the bullet and fully redesigned the 737. Presumably future engines will be bigger still, will they just tack them onto this old design as well? At the end of the day this is just a software fix.

At this point they are in a corner, and from a corporate standpoint need this to compete with Airbus.

The length of developing a fully new aircraft is too long considering the competition, assuming you aren’t particularly passionate about safety.

Re: Boeing's upgraded 737 Max completes first flight with media onboard

#28
post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd use it when the pandemic is over. Zero confidence in Boeing. In general I think a prosumer-oriented flight search engine would do well. Something like ITA Matrix, before Google absorbed it into Google Flights.

I have no illusions I could easily create anything on the level of complexity of ITA (super impressive team/product). If I were to do this, it'd be a layer on top of some flight API doing the heavy lifting.

Sound. Just being able to avoid the 737 MAX for the next few years would be welcome.

Re: Boeing's upgraded 737 Max completes first flight with media onboard

#29
post #7

I recently had the frivolous idea of creating a flight search engine for flights that DID NOT use the 737 Max. Any actual interest in this?

Are airlines even obliged to disclose the type of plane? One of them even changed the type of plane and destination airport (same city though) for one of my flights.

I don't think they're obligated, but many airlines do. Changes do happen, though, so the plane listed at booking may not be the plane you fly on.

Re: Boeing's upgraded 737 Max completes first flight with media onboard

#30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Discount in excess of 100%? So they were paid to brake them? Makes sense for Ryan to start doing negative prices for their flights. Making profit on the bus fare into city and baggage fees.

That quote wasn't in the article... I suspect OP was joking, but even if they had been given a massive discount, I'm sure the contract prevents them from telling anyone else the terms...

The joke is just a little too subtle if so lol (though perhaps how it ought to be), seen some really weird arrangements during this year
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