Close X
Monday, February 17, 2025
ADVT 
National

'All Options On The Table', But No Plans To Ground 737 Max 8 In Canada: Garneau

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 12 Mar, 2019 08:21 PM
  • 'All Options On The Table', But No Plans To Ground 737 Max 8 In Canada: Garneau

MONTREAL — Transport Minister Marc Garneau says "all options are on the table" with regard to the country's fleet of Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft, but that the government currently has no plans to order the grounding of the plane.


"We will continue to evaluate the situation," Garneau told reporters Tuesday in French.


"All options are on the table. That could include grounding the planes, but at the same time I will evaluate all possibilities and not jump to conclusions before we can clearly evaluate the situation."


Garneau's comments came within minutes of announcements from the U.K., Germany, France and Ireland that they were grounding or closing airspace to the new Boeing plane involved in the Ethiopian Airlines disaster.


The moves come on the heels of similar moves by Australia, Singapore, Ethiopia, Indonesia and China.


It was not clear immediately what the growing wave of groundings and air space restrictions would mean for Air Canada and WestJet, both of which have service to Europe.


Meanwhile, customers looking to cancel or change their plans in order to avoid flying on a 737 Max 8 are running into resistance.


Flight Centre travel agency has said Canadian airlines are not waiving flight-change or cancellation fees for passengers who want to switch to another aircraft.


The stance from Air Canada and WestJet Airlines Ltd., which collectively tout 37 Max 8s in their fleets, comes amid a wave of requests from worried travellers so far excluded from goodwill policies.


The Ethiopian Airlines crash, which killed all 157 people on board — including 18 Canadians — has raised concerns over parallels to a Lion Air crash of the same model of aircraft in Indonesia last October that killed 189 people.


Garneau said Monday that his department is working with the U.S. Federal Aviation Authority to determine if action is required. Boeing said the FAA has told the U.S.-based aircraft manufacturer it must install safety-related software updates to the 737 Max 8s.


Air Canada and WestJet did not respond immediately to requests for comment on fee waiving.

MORE National ARTICLES

Halifax Fire Claims Seven Children: Syrian Family Caught In Fire Thought They Would Be Safe In Canada

HALIFAX — At 30 years of age, Syrian refugee Kawthar Barho had seen her share of suffering and death before she came to Canada with her family.

Halifax Fire Claims Seven Children: Syrian Family Caught In Fire Thought They Would Be Safe In Canada

Canadian Advocates, Bishops At Odds Over How To Tackle Sex Abuse Ahead Of Summit

Canada's top Catholic bishop says he hopes to emphasize the importance of believing victims when he discusses sexual abuse with his international counterparts during a gathering at the Vatican this week.

Canadian Advocates, Bishops At Odds Over How To Tackle Sex Abuse Ahead Of Summit

Vancouver Granville Community Leaders Voice Support For MP Jody Wilson-Raybould

The intention of the note was to convey that sometimes what looks like a curse can actually be a blessing.

Vancouver Granville Community Leaders Voice Support For MP Jody Wilson-Raybould

Manitoba 'Pausing' Relationship With Former B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell After Allegations

Campbell was hired by Manitoba last fall to review two major hydro projects that have added billions of dollars to the provincial debt.

Manitoba 'Pausing' Relationship With Former B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell After Allegations

B.C. Measles Outbreak: 33 Students, Staff Asked To Stay Home From Schools

B.C. Measles Outbreak: 33 Students, Staff Asked To Stay Home From Schools
Vancouver Coastal Health says there have been eight confirmed cases of measles at Ecole Secondaire Jules-Verne and Ecole Rose-des-Vents.

B.C. Measles Outbreak: 33 Students, Staff Asked To Stay Home From Schools

B.C. Budget Hits Record Level Of Spending On Capital Construction Projects: NDP

B.C. is forecast to have the highest economic growth in Canada in 2019 and 2020 at 2.4 per cent this year and 2.3 per cent next year.

B.C. Budget Hits Record Level Of Spending On Capital Construction Projects: NDP