Gregory Polek has spent his entire career in aviation journalism with AIN, starting as a proofreader and assistant to then-managing editor Mary Mahoney in 1995 after serving an internship with&nbsp;New Jersey Monthly&nbsp;magazine and completing his B.A. degree in English/Writing at New Jersey’s William Paterson College. By 1997 Polek accepted a position as an associate editor, covering the regional airline beat for&nbsp;Aviation International News&nbsp;in place of retiring industry veteran Don Anderson. The assignment took Polek across North America and Europe to profile regional airlines varying in size and mission from the likes of floatplane operators Kenmore Air and Chalk’s Ocean Airways to regional jet operators such as SkyWest and American Eagle. Today, in his dual role as Air Transport Editor and International Airshow Editor, Polek writes, edits, and manages AIN’s commercial aviation content while overseeing each of the company’s daily international air show publications in Paris, Farnborough, Singapore, and Dubai. Most recently Polek has assumed oversight of daily coverage of the Helicopter Association International’s annual Heli-Expo convention.

Senior Editor

Gregory Polek

Southwest Airlines has joined fellow U.S. carriers United and American Airlines in removing the Boeing 737 Max from its flight schedules for another month, pushing back its previous plan to cancel all Max flights now through November 2. All three U.S. Max operators have now removed the airplanes from their schedules until early November, as they monitor information from Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on software fixes and training requirements.

 


“By proactively removing the Max from scheduled service, we can reduce last-minute flight cancellations and unexpected disruptions to our customers’ travel plans,” said Southwest in a statement.&nbsp;“The limited number of customers who have already booked their travel and will be affected by our amended schedule are being notified of their re-accommodated travel according to our flexible&nbsp;accommodation procedures. The revision will proactively remove roughly 180 daily flights from our schedule out of our total peak-day schedule of more than 4,000 daily flights.”

 


In its previous announcement, issued June 27, Southwest said the Max grounding would result in the removal of 150 flights through October 1. As more Max airplanes originally slated to enter the fleet remain grounded, their operators will feel a more acute effect in terms of daily flight cancellations. &nbsp;

 


The delays also have forced the airline to defer two new-hire pilot classes and two captain upgrade classes until it receives more definitive information about the airplane’s return to service and delivery timelines, reported Reuters, citing an emailed statement from Southwest.

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

Southwest Removes Max from Schedules through November 2

All three U.S. Max operators now have deferred Max flying into at least November.

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News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

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News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

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New developments at airports including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

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News and developments about everything that goes into the cabin of an aircraft, from floor coverings to headliners, with a special emphasis on in-flight entertainment, communications and other electronics for passengers. If it is in the cabin of an aircraft, it’s covered here.

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