¿Boeing changed the name of the 737 Max?

Boeing announced on Wednesday that it had received a new order for up to four of its 737 Max series aircraft, the first sale for the troubled family of planes in 2020.

Amid the rare spot of good news for the planemaker, which is trying to revive the jet while fending off coronavirus-induced losses, one unexpected change stood out: the name of the plane.

For the first time, Boeing dropped the “Max” branding when referring to the specific plane variant, simply calling it the “737-8,” rather than the “737 Max 8,” the name that the planemaker has used since the aircraft entered service in 2017. It described the plane as belonging to the “737 Max” family of aircraft, differentiating it from the 737-800, which belongs to the 737 Next Generation family, the Max’s predecessor.

It’s not clear if Boeing is officially changing the plane’s name. “We’re naming the variant as there are five different types overall (-7, -8 (including denser MAX 200), -9, -10,” spokesperson Peter P. Pedraza told Business Insider, noting that Boeing did use the Max name in the press release. The Max 8 naming convention remains on Boeing’s website.

A rebranding of the troubled jet wouldn’t be too surprising. Last year, a Boeing exec reportedly said the company was open to the idea. Airlines have been working on plans for making passengers comfortable with the idea of flying aboard the troubled plane. President Donald Trump chimed in last April, tweeting that Boeing should change the name. “I would FIX the Boeing 737 MAX, add some additional great features, & REBRAND the plane with a new name,” he wrote.

By Business Insider