Norwegian Air to replace beleaguered Boeing jet in flights out of Stewart

GOSHEN — Norwegian Air will deploy a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to New York Stewart International Airport in Newburgh after the airlines grounded its Boeing 737 Max 8 jets, Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus announced on Wednesday.
“I have been in regular contact with Stewart International Airport’s general manager, Ed Harrison,” Neuhaus said. “Mr. Harrison has worked closely with Norwegian Air to ensure that the carrier provides substitute aircraft for travelers in a timely manner. I appreciate Norwegian’s continued support of flights at Stewart International Airport and its proactive leadership. As Orange County continues to grow as a tourism destination, I know that Norwegian will enjoy even more success here.”
The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner has 338 seats, of which 282 are in Economy and 56 in Premium. Norwegian is the world’s fifth largest low-cost airline and carried over 37 million passengers in 2018, Neuhaus said in his statement. The airline operates more than 500 routes to over 150 destinations in Europe, North Africa, Middle East, Thailand, Caribbean, North and South America.
Second crash grounds jets worldwideAirlines around the world have grounded the Boeing 737 Max 8 jetliner after the second devastating crash of one of the planes in five months. Canada's transport minister said March 13 that the country is closing its air space to the jet.
But Boeing says it has no reason to pull the popular aircraft from the skies.
Ethiopia mourned 157 victims of the plane that went down in clear weather shortly after takeoff Sunday. Investigators found the jetliner's two flight recorders at the crash site outside the capital of Addis Ababa.
Ethiopian authorities are leading the investigation into the crash, assisted by the U.S., Kenya and others.
The crash was similar to that of a Lion Air jet of the same model in Indonesian seas last year, killing 189 people. The crash was likely to renew questions about the 737 Max 8, the newest version of Boeing's single-aisle airliner, which was first introduced in 1967 and has become the world's most common passenger jet.
The Chicago-based Boeing said it did not intend to issue any new recommendations about the aircraft to its customers. It plans to send a technical team to the crash site to help investigators and issued a statement saying it was "deeply saddened to learn of the passing of the passengers and crew" on the jetliner.
On Tuesday, Norwegian Air Shuttles grounded its 18 Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft on recommendation from European aviation authorities. The carrier says it will seek compensation from Boeing after it grounded its fleet of 737 Max 8 aircraft.
Norwegian Air spokeswoman Tonje Naess told The Associated Press that the Oslo-based airline "should not have any financial burden for a brand new aircraft that will not to be used."
American Airlines and Southwest were the world's only carriers flying the 737 Max 8 until President Trump announced last Wednesday after that the United States would ground the jets.