resumed operation of the 737 MAX as of April 10, in a positive sign for
the U.S. plane-maker’s attempts to rebuild its business in the world’s
second-largest aviation market.
Based on these airlines, the
number of 737 MAX returning to commercial service reached 43, accounting
for approximately 45% of the Chinese 737 MAX fleet, the company also
said in a social media post on its official WeChat account.
The best-selling Boeing model was grounded in March 2019 after
fatal crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia, but returned to service around
the world starting in late 2020 after modifications to the aircraft and
pilot training.
China is the last major market to resume flying
the MAX amid ongoing trade tensions with the United States, and the
return comes as domestic travel demand rebounds after China abandoned
zero-COVID policies.Foreign
airlines began flying the MAX to China in October 2022. In January,
China Southern Airlines flew from Guangzhou to Zhengzhou using a MAX
plane, marking the plane’s first passenger flight in China in nearly
four years.
Boeing did not name who the 11 airlines were but
carriers including Hainan Airlines Holding Co Ltd, Fuzhou Airlines,
Lucky Air and Air China have flown the jets in the months since.
The
U.S. plane-maker also said it has upgraded a flight training device for
the 737 MAX jet in Shanghai to help with pilot training.
“The move reaffirms our commitment to our civil aircraft customers in China,” said Sherry Carbary, president of Boeing China.
“The
equipment upgrade allows us to further enhance our support for Chinese
737 MAX customers as they expand the aircraft’s operations in and around
China.”
(Sophie Yu and Brenda Goh – Reuters)
