MAX 8 Grounding Reduces Southwest Flights in Summer Schedule

Southwest trims summer service across network, including Pittsburgh, as flight schedules adjust

By Bob Kerlik

Published April 15, 2019

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The fallout from the grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 increased over the weekend as Southwest Airlines trimmed summer flight schedules across multiple cities because of reduced aircraft availability.

The schedule adjustments, attributed to vacancies left by the grounded MAX jets, will take effect from June 8-29. Whether the suspensions specific to PIT will continue beyond June is unclear.

Southwest removed all 34 of its MAX 8s from service March 13 following a grounding order from the FAA in the wake of two crashes on other carriers.

The grounded aircraft account for a small percentage of the 750-plus Boeing 737 models in the airline’s fleet.

Routes affected from PIT during June include suspended nonstop service to LAX and Cancun as well as reduced service to Las Vegas. Pittsburgh International Airport ma