American Airlines will this week start ‘flights to nowhere’ in Boeing 737 Max jets as it eases the aircraft back into service.
From 3-17 December it will operate at least five non-commercial flights occupied by employee volunteers, giving some pilots their first real-world experience flying the jets again since the grounding away from simulator training.
As the name suggests, flights to nowhere are roundtrip flights that take off and land at the same airport.
It plans one from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and two flights each from Miami and New York’s LaGuardia Airport, according to an internal memo.
Staff volunteers are sought for the flights.
American aims to be the first US airline to fly the planes commercially again in late December.
The airline says it will allow customers who don’t want to fly on a Max plane to reschedule their travel plans for flights operated with other aircraft.
Written by Ray Montgomery, US Editor
