Today, Russia, following Europe and America, banned the flights of Boeing 737 MAX. Dozens of countries have stopped using this aircraft after the Sunday crash in Ethiopia. The United States held out to the last. Trump personally requested to ground the flagship aircraft of the American company only late evening yesterday, when Canada joined the interdiction.
Our observer Tatyana Remezova is in our studio.
- Tatyana, we are most interested in the question how will this ban affect Russian airlines?
- Ernest, passengers of Russian airlines will feel the ban least of all. However, it is termless.
Alexander Neradko, Head of Federal Agency for Air Transport: "Today, the Agency sent a NOTAM, a so-called Notice to Airmen of the foreign countries that the Russian Federation stops, stops providing Russian airspace to the fights of those planes after the Agency received an official notice from the Federal Aviation Administration and the Boeing Company".
As yet, more than 40 countries in total have closed their airspace for Boeing 737 Max 8. The airlines had to land temporarily about 350 planes. However, it's not the worst part. Boeing has signed contracts for supplying more than 5000 of those planes all over the world. There are only two latest model Boeings operating in Russia: both are used by Globus Airlines, a member airline of S7 Airlines Group. The Russian airlines were to purchase more than 70 more planes, making deals worth $4 billion. Pobeda Airlines was to receive 20 planes, Ural Airlines were to receive 14, Utair ordered 30 of them. The supplies were to start in 6 months but now the purchase may not take place at all.
"Utair waits for the results of the investigation and is not going to receive Boeing 737 MAX until the manufacturer provides a 100% guarantee of safety".
The flight recorders of the crashed plane were sent to France. The U.S. Aviation Authorities didn't reveal any details but they decided to ground the Boeings after examining the recorders. Anyway, according to flightradar website, there are still five 737 MAX in the air over the United States and Latin America.
- Basically, a worldwide ban means colossal reputational damage to Boeing. Can the company manage it?
- Ernest, considering that the main lobbyist of Boeing is Donald Trump himself, the company will probably shake off and go on. Even after announcing the ban on flights and condolences to the families of the victims, the president couldn't help praising the company.
Donald Trump: "Boeing is an incredible company. They are hard at work right now. May God bless the United States of America and God bless Boeing".
The head of the Boeing company is a frequent visitor of the Trump Tower, while the president often visits the factories of the company. The current U.S, Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan is Boeing's ex-vice president. Vice versa, Nikki Haley, who left her post of the U.S. Ambassador to the UN, received another post in the company's board of directors.
European Airbus will definitely take advantage of its competitor's failure. The Ethiopian prime minister has already discussed with Macron the potential purchase of the new A-350 and A-320. This week, the major tourist websites are going to add an option to choose the aircraft making the flight.
- Thank you, Tatyana. This was our observer Tatyana Remezova.
