Boeing doesn’t expect regulators to sign off on the 737 Max until June or July, people familiar with the matter said Tuesday. That date is months later than the manufacturer previously expected.
The delays pose another headache for carriers who have already missed one peak travel season without the planes.
Shares of the aircraft manufacturer fell on the news, falling by more than 5% in the mid-afternoon before trading was halted.
Boeing statement
We are informing our customers and suppliers that we are currently estimating that the ungrounding of the 737 MAX will begin during mid-2020. This updated estimate is informed by our experience to date with the certification process. It is subject to our ongoing attempts to address known schedule risks and further developments that may arise in connection with the certification process. It also accounts for the rigorous scrutiny that regulatory authorities are rightly applying at every step of their review of the 737 MAX’s flight control system and the Joint Operations Evaluation Board process which determines pilot training requirements.