American Airlines lost $185 million and canceled 7,800 flights during the second quarter after regulators grounded Boeing 737 Max jets.
Fort Worth-based American Airlines tallied the 737 Max impact in an investor update Wednesday morning, two weeks ahead of its earnings release. Those numbers only account for losses from the second quarter of April to June. It said it would give a full-year estimate when it reports earnings.
The 737 Max has been grounded since March with no end in sight after U.S. and European regulators told Boeing that more fixes would be needed. The aircraft's global grounding followed two plane crashes over the last year that killed 346 people in Indonesia and Ethiopia. The crashes have been blamed on a faulty software system intended to keep the plane aloft.
American has faced a rough few months, blaming a spike in delays and cancelations on problems with the 737 Max jets as well as a labor dispute with union mechanics seeking a new contract.
American Airlines has 24 737 Max series aircraft in its fleet, accounting for about 1.4 percent of all flights. It's taken some routes out of its schedule, such as one between DFW International Airport and Oakland, and suspended some less-popular routes.
American has taken 737 Max planes off its schedule through Sept. 3.
The $185 million represents pre-tax losses, American said in its note to investors.
To worsen the problem, American said it was scheduled to receive another seven Max jets during the second quarter. But with the Federal Aviation Administration ordering Boeing to make more fixes, airline chiefs such as Southwest Airlines' Gary Kelly have said it could be longer before it sees the jets back in the air.
Dallas-based Southwest has the largest fleet of Boeing 737 Max jets with 34. With just under 5% of its fleet out of service, Southwest said it has canceled roughly 150 flights a day to accommodate.
Southwest doesn't have the aircraft scheduled to fly until at least Oct. 2 but has said it could take longer.
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