United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
Business travellers uneasy about prospect of flying 737 MAX
A survey suggests a majority of business travellers have a sense of unease about flying on the Boeing 737 MAX when it finally gets clearance to operate again.
A Global Business Travel Association poll found 80% of business travel managers are concerned about it and two-thirds think employees may change plans to avoid taking a Max flight.
It says 38% were ‘very concerned’ about traveling on a MAX jet.
"We’ve had nobody call us and say they are taking the 737 out of their global travel policy . . . but people want transparency, they want someone to say that the plane is fine and not just Boeing or the FAA, they just want to know that a lot of different agencies touched the problem," said Scott Solombrino, GBTA executive director.
The concerns of the business travel community are important as they make up such a big proportion of market revenue.
GBTA’s members manage over $345 billion in global business travel spend.
The survey polled 155 members earlier this month.
The MAX may not be cleared to fly again until later this year, and airline chiefs have acknowledged when that does happen, it could be a tough sell with customers.
"The first and foremost objective is not to assume everyone will want to fly, or assume everyone will get over it," United CEO Oscar Munoz recently told CNBC.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
Craig Ray and the Expansion of the Blues Trail
Presenting Mississippi’s Cultural Trails with Katie Coats
Robert Terrell: A Journey Through BB King’s Influence
Rochelle Hicks: Celebrating Mississippi’s Musical Legacy
Exploring Jacksonville with Katie Mitura: The Flip Side of Florida
Boy falls to death on cruise ship
Dozens fall ill in P&O Cruises ship outbreak
Turkish Airlines flight in emergency landing after pilot dies
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Woman dies after going overboard in English Channel