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Boeing confirmed yesterday that the eleven Chinese operators of its 737 MAX returned them to service, with around 45% of aircraft delivered before 2019 finding their way back to the sky.
Announced at a 737 MAX pilot training event in Shanghainumber of 43,737-8 active to April 10, 2023 in Chinese airports was advanced by the American aircraft manufacturer, which represents 45% of the aircraft delivered in the country before mars 2019 – and the accidents that caused 346 victims at Lion Air then Ethiopian Airlines, which had led to the immobilization of all the re-engined single-aisle aircraft in the world.
Boeing did not detail this announcement, but in early April Xiamen Air had become the 9th operator in China to return to service its 737 MAX since mid-January 2023, following China Southern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Fuzhou Airlines, Lucky Air, Air China, Jiuyuan Airlines et Shandong Airlines ; Shenzhen Airlines has since joined them, followed on April 8 by Shanghai Airlines and its B-208M).
China was the first country to ground the 737 MAX in March 2019 (97 copies were then in service), and among the last to authorize them to fly once more in December 2021. But it took until January 13, 2023 to see a China Southern 737-8 to take off once more, the first in nearly four years.
For new deliveries of 737 MAX in China, we will probably have to wait: the last dates back to October 2028 (to China Southern, which like its rival China Eastern hopes to receive additional copies by the end of the year).
©Boeing