Airlines want joint lifting of 737 MAX ban, EU reserves right to decide

Global airlines urged regulators on Sunday to coordinate on software changes to the Boeing 737 MAX, thus avoiding damaging splits over safety seen when the aircraft was grounded in March.

The International Air Transport Association, whose 290 carriers account for 80 percent of world flying, said trust in the certification system had been damaged by a wave of separate decisions to ground the jet, with the US last to act.

Airlines are worried further splits between regulators over safety could confuse passengers and cause disruption.

“Any rift between regulators is not in anyone’s interest,” director general Alexandre de Juniac told an IATA annual meeting in Seoul.