Airlines to avoid if you don’t want to ride a Boeing 737 Max-8

With the new Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft having two crashes under its belt in the past five months, the airline industry is on tenterhooks awaiting developments. The October 2018 crash in Indonesia killed 189 people shortly after takeoff while the latest tragedy from Ethiopia has seen all 159 passengers dead. The Ethiopian plane crashed just a few minutes after takeoff and was being used since October 2018, the same time the Indonesian airline started use of its plane.

If you’re concerned as to what specific airplane you’re riding when you’re booking a flight, it’s best to know which airlines ordered such a craft. But with new reports coming out, it’s best to contact your carrier to know if they will use using that specific aircraft for your flight. You can also see the aircraft to be used when you book tickets online.

Here’s a list of airlines which have ordered the Boeing Max 8 orders and deliveries via wikipedia: 

In Asia’s context, the ones which are more commonly booked in Southeast Asia include Fiji Airways, Qatar Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Vietjet Air , China Southern Airlines, Korean Air, Shenzhen Airlines, Air China, Garuda Indonesia, Lion Air, Nok Air, China Eastern, Hainan Airlines, Silkair, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines and Jet Airways.

For Singaporeans, you may be glad that Singapore Airlines, Scoot and Airasia, three of the more commonly flown airlines here are not in the list of airlines which have ordered the Boeing 737 Max.

What’s wrong with the Boeing 737 MAX 8?

According to the BBC, the particular model figuring in the crashes has a slightly different balance than previous model. The table shows above that Ethiopia Airlines ordered the units in September 2014 and had received five units of the plane.

The same report said that Jakarta-based aviation analyst Gerry Soejatman told the BBC the 737 Max’s “engine is a bit further forward and a bit higher in relation to the wing, compared to the previous version of the plane. That affects the balance of the plane”.

This could lead to errors during flight. Investigations are still ongoing as to the reason for the crash.

The Boeing 737 Max has been the best-selling aircraft in Boeing’s history, with more than 5000 units ordered by several hundred different operators globally.

Errata: Vietjet does not use the Boeing 737 MAX

Header image from Shutterstock, Boeing 737 Max