Icelandair fighting against challenges from Boeing 737 MAX grounding

Published: 03-09-2019 Icelandair fighting against challenges from Boeing 737 MAX grounding

Sep 03, 2019 (newstodate): Like other airlines that have built their plans around the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, Icelandair is fighting to keep things together.
   As one effect from the grounding of the airline's nine aircraft that should have been in service by the end of this year, Iceland has been forced to relegate 111 pilots to half-time service during this coming winter, while another 30 pilots would be used on a flight-by-the-hour basis.
   Already in May 2019, Icelandair took leave of 45 pilots dedicated to operating the MAX aircraft.
   Icelandair started operating its first three Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft in 2018, with six more planned for 2019; seven Boeing 737 MAX aircraft would be added in 2020 and 2021, bringing the fleet to a total of 16 of this type.
   The carrier is now considering moving the grounded Boeing 737 MAX aircraft out of Iceland for parking at sites less challenging than the cold Icelandic winter climate.

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