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AA Extends Flight Cancellations Into August, MAX 737 Investigations Continue

Approximately 115 flights per day will be canceled through Aug. 19

American Airlines has extended flight cancellations into August as investigations into the Boeing MAX 737 continue.

According to a Sunday press release, the airline has decided to extend cancellations through Aug. 19.

Approximately 115 flights per day will be canceled through Aug. 19. and those flights make up 1.5% of the total flights this summer.

AAA Texas said while delays are possible anytime you fly, the news does increase the chance travelers will face delays over the busy summer season. 

"We don't even know how long this grounding will be in place, but it's good to err on the side of caution and make sure you are prepared for any possible changes. And the sooner you do that, rather than waiting until later, the better off you'll be," AAA Texas spokesperson Daniel Armbruster said.

Armbruster said the airlines have shown they're willing to work with travelers changing plans due to delays, but their policies vary on how early those discussions must take place.

Read American Airlines' full statement:

“As we prepare for summer, our focus is around planning for the busiest travel period of the year.

Families everywhere are counting on American Airlines for their summer vacations, family reunions, trips to visit friends and adventures overseas.

Our commitment to each other and to our customers is to operate the safest and most reliable operation in our history.

To further that mission, we have made the decision to extend our cancellations for the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft through Aug. 19.

Based upon our ongoing work with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Boeing, we are highly confident that the MAX will be recertified prior to this time.

But by extending our cancellations through the summer, we can plan more reliably for the peak travel season and provide confidence to our customers and team members when it comes to their travel plans.

Once the MAX is recertified, we anticipate bringing our MAX aircraft back on line as spares to supplement our operation as needed during the summer.

The planning team is working on this action now and in total, approximately 115 flights per day will be canceled through Aug. 19.

These 115 flights represent approximately 1.5 percent of American’s total flying each day this summer.

We remain confident that the impending software updates, along with the new training elements Boeing is developing for the MAX, will lead to recertification of the aircraft soon.

We have been in continuous contact with the FAA, Department of Transportation (DOT), National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), other regulatory authorities and are pleased with the progress so far.

Our Reservations and Sales teams will continue to work closely with customers to manage their travel plans, and we appreciate their outstanding efforts to care for our customers.

Your professionalism and care for customers is second to none, and we thank you for all you do every day for our customers and for each other.”

For continued updates on the Boeing 737 MAX, click here.

NBC 5's Allie Spillyards contributed to this report.

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