Boeing on Tuesday said it logged more cancellations than orders for its 737 Max plane last month, just as carriers are preparing to return the jets to service following two deadly crashes.
Boeing said customers including Virgin Australia and lessor Air Lease canceled orders for 88 Max planes. Virgin Australia, however, changed its order to include 25 of the 737 Max 10, a larger model, which it expects will be delivered starting in mid-2023.
Brazilian carrier Gol is set to become the first airline to fly the Max commercially again since they were grounded. The airline, one of the largest Max customers with 95 planes on order, plans to start Max flights on Wednesday from its Sao Paulo hub, it said late Monday.
American Airlines is on track to become the first U.S. carrier to resume commercial flights with the upgraded Max on Dec. 29 with first routes between Miami and New York’s LaGuardia Airport.