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Here's what United, Southwest, and American Airlines are doing after the US grounded all Boeing 737 Max planes

Graham Rapier   

Here's what United, Southwest, and American Airlines are doing after the US grounded all Boeing 737 Max planes

A Boeing 737 Max takes part in a flying display. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol

Thomson Reuters

A Boeing 737 Max takes part in a flyng display at the first day of the 52nd Paris Air Show at Le Bourget airport near Paris

  • The United States joined Europe and others in grounding all Boeing 737 Max  airplanes on Wednesday. 
  • Around the world, hundreds of flights have been canceled after the plane was involved in second deadly crash on Sunday in Ethiopia. 
  • Southwest, American, and United Airlines operate the plane in the United States. 

President Trump announced Wednesday that the United States would join Europe and many other countries in grounding all Boeing 737 Max airplanes after the model was involved in a second deadly crash on Sunday.

At the time of Trump's announcement, dozens of the planes - operated by American, Southwest and United - were still airborne. The FAA confirmed that it was ordering the temporary grounding of Boeing 737 Max aircraft "operated by US airlines or in US territory."

American Airlines said in a statement to Business Insider that it had 24 aircraft affected by the directive and was "working to rebook customers as quickly as possible."

At least six American flights were canceled between New York's LaGuardia Airport and Miami. It's possible that the so-called red-eye cross-country flights Wednesday evening could also be affected.

Southwest Airlines, which earlier on Wednesday had said it had waived change fee and was working with passengers who wanted to avoid flying on the aircraft in question, said it was "seeking confirmation and additional guidance from the FAA."

Southwest has the largest exposure to the aircraft, with 34 of the planes.

United Airlines, which operates 14 737 Max 9's, said it would have to cancel 40 flights per day.

"We do not anticipate a significant operational impact as a result of this order," a spokesperson told Business Insider. "We will continue to work with our customers to help minimize any disruption to their travel."

Boeing's chief executive Dennis Muilenburg said in a statement that the company had consulted federal authorities and recommend the temporary restriction to the FAA "out of an abundance of caution."

"We are supporting this proactive step out of an abundance of caution," the statement read. "Safety is a core value at Boeing for as long as we have been building airplanes; and it always will be. There is no greater priority for our company and our industry. We are doing everything we can to understand the cause of the accidents in partnership with the investigators, deploy safety enhancements and help ensure this does not happen again."

More on Boeing's 737 Max 8 and the Ethiopian Airlines disaster: 

Get the latest Boeing stock price here.

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