American Airlines has extended the cancellation of its Boeing B737 Max flights until November 2, as speculation grows that the aircraft may not return to passenger service until 2020.

AA said that it “remains confident that impending software updates to the Boeing 737 Max, along with the new training elements Boeing is developing in coordination with our union partners, will lead to recertification of the aircraft this year”.

The carrier added that by extending cancellations up until November, “our customers and team members can more reliably plan their upcoming travel on American”.

The move will see around 115 flights cancelled per day until November 2. Earlier this month fellow US carrier Southwest Airlines said that it expects to remove the B737 Max from its flying schedules beyond October 1.

Meanwhile The Wall Street Journal reported this weekend that “an increasing number of government and industry officials” say the B737 Max is unlikely to return to service until next year.

The report said that “the situation remains fluid, no firm timeline has been established and Boeing still has to satisfy US regulators that it has answered all outstanding safety questions”.

aa.com