Despite the Boeing 737 Max (NYSE:BA) returning to service, some passengers are choosing to boycott the aircraft due to safety concerns.
What’s Happening: The reputation-damaging incident with Alaska Airlines has led to many opting out of flying on a Boeing carrier, CNN reported on Tuesday.
Ed Pierson, a Seattle-based executive director of an airline watchdog group, and former Boeing employee, had a firsthand experience of the Max in 2023. Pierson, who was not initially aware that he was boarding a Max, promptly disembarked the aircraft.
"I said, ‘I can't go into detail right now, but I wasn't planning on flying the Max, and I want to get off the plane.'"
He has since made a personal commitment to avoid the Max.
Belén Estacio, a marketing professional, has also made a conscious decision to boycott the Max following an Alaska Airlines incident. Estacio now checks the aircraft type before booking any flights and prefers to fly with Airbus.
"The whole thing of, ‘If it's not Boeing I ain't going,' it's totally the opposite now," she said.
Elayne Grimes, a U.K.-based communications consultant, has actively sought out airlines that don’t operate ...