Aircraft
Government Shutdown Grounds Two American Airlines Max 8s
Flight and operational authorizations have stopped, raising hurdles to service entry of newly delivered aircraft.

The partial shutdown of the U.S. government has delayed entry into service of two Boeing 737 Max 8s delivered to American Airlines. The only two airplanes delivered to American since the shutdown began on December 22, both Max 8s sit at the airline’s maintenance facilities in Tulsa, Oklahoma, while awaiting approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to enter service. In a statement to AIN, the airline said the delay would not immediately affect schedules, however.