LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - American Airlines Group Inc (NASDAQ: AAL) is "confident" that its Boeing Co (NYSE: BA) 737 MAX aircraft will fly this year, in time for the holidays, Senior Vice President of Customer Experience Kerry Philipovitch told reporters on Tuesday.

American has removed its 24 MAX jets from its flying schedule through early November as it awaits Federal Aviation Administration approval for the grounded planes to fly again following two fatal crashes.

(Reporting by Tracy Rucinski; editing by Jonathan Oatis)