THE first photos of a “rebranded” Boeing 737 Max jet has emerged.
It comes just after news that the model may not return to service until next year at the earliest according to industry experts.
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The photos were first shared on social media by Woodys Aeroimages, who has been following the Boeing 737 Max since 2011.
The images showed one Ryanair plane with the 737 Max strapline near the cockpit while the second said 737-8200.
The caption for the photos said: “The MAX name has been dropped from the high capacity version of the #737MAX8 that @Ryanair has on order.”
It’s believed to be the first time that the aircraft has been “rebranded”.
A Boeing spokesperson told Sun Online Travel: “Our immediate focus is the safe return of the Max to service and re-earning the trust of airlines and the travelling public.
“We remain open minded to all input from customers and other stakeholders, but have no plans at this time to change the name of the 737 MAX.”
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The photos have emerged following news that the troubled model may not return to service until next year.
The earliest the Max jets can expect to return to service is January 2020 according to some experts, the Wall Street Journal reported.
This is because the list of issues to be investigated as part of the safety analyses has expanded, and added to it is the fact that Boeing will need to redevelop and certify its software and pilot training procedure.
Among the issues is a new flaw found last month that could push the plane’s nose down automatically.
Boeing said that the FAA “identified an additional requirement” for software changes that the aircraft manufacturer has been working on for eight months, since shortly after the first crash.
The manufacturer said in a statement at the time: “Boeing agrees with the FAA’s decision and request, and is working on the required software to address the FAA’s request.”
US airlines are most heavily affected by the grounding of the aircraft.
American Airlines and United Airlines cancelled scores of flights that were serviced by the Boeing Max jets and both carriers have just announced that they would be extending the cancellations until at least November this year.
In the UK, only Tui and Norwegian were affected by the grounding – but both have sought alternative aircraft to cover the routes.
But not all airlines can be so patient.
Last week, Saudi airline Flyadeal became the first carrier to cancel its order of Max jets.
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Hundreds of Boeing 737 Max planes have been grounded around the world since earlier this due to two crashes that killed hundreds of people.
Ethiopian Airlines experienced problems shortly after take off, leading to the crash which killed 157 people, while 189 people were killed in the Lion Air crash last year.
According to Bloomberg, it costs around $2,000 (£1,577) a month per plane to park them, causing further financial issues for the plane manufacturer.
Earlier this year, International Airlines Group (IAG) announced plans to buy 200 Boeing 737 Max planes.
While not final, the deal is estimated to be worth upwards of $24 billion (£19 billion) based on list prices.
IAG, which owns British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, Vueling and LEVEL, is one of the largest airline groups in the world.
The company’s Chief Executive Willie Walsh said of the 737 Max: “We have every confidence in Boeing and expect that the aircraft will make a successful return to service in the coming months”.
Mr Walsh, a former 737 pilot, said he would have “no hesitation” in flying on the plane, and voiced confidence in its safety.
IAG is planning to buy both the Max 8, which seats 178 passengers, and the larger Max 10, which sits 230 passengers.
However, it hasn’t said how the orders will be split. The plan is for the 200 aircraft to be delivered between 2023 and 2027.
Sun Online Travel has contacted Ryanair for comment.
