Kayak Reports Dramatic Uptick in Travelers Seeking To Avoid 737 Max Flights

In a not entirely shocking development, it seems travelers are increasingly seeking to avoid flights on Boeing 737 Max aircraft.

The search engine Kayak reports that it has seen a 15-fold increase in usage for a filter on its site that allows travelers to exclude Boeing Max flights from their search results.

Though the search filter was added to the Kayak site in March 2019, use of the tool began experiencing a serious uptick on the heels of the recent Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 flight that lost a door plug.

The door plug blew off as Alaska Flight 1282 flew from Portland, Oregon, to Ontario, California, with six crew members and 171 passengers onboard, depressurizing the cabin and forcing the cockpit door open.

Kayak representatives told TravelPulse the site began witnessing consumers using the tool to screen out Max 737 flights as of January 6. Representatives also said the increased search volume makes clear that “aircraft type is, in fact, top of mind for travelers right now.”

Since noticing the uptick in travelers filtering searches by plane type, Kayak has made the tool more prominent on its site.

“KAYAK makes it easy for concerned travelers to avoid 737Max flights,” Steve Hafner, KAYAK CEO said in a statement provided to TravelPulse. “We’ve increased the prominence of the MAX filter on site.”

In addition, Kayak has also since added the ability to filter specifically by 737 Max 8 and Max 9 models, as well. The Max 8 is still used around the world.

Amid such passenger uncertainty, some airlines are removing Max planes from their flight line-up.

The Federal Aviation Administration, meanwhile, is preparing to greenlight the Boeing Max 9 for a return to the air, but has put the brakes on Boeing plans to expand 737 Max production.

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