Boeing 737 MAX in China: eleven airlines already resumed operations

Boeing confirmed on Tuesday that eleven airlines in China have now resumed operations of their 737 MAX aircraft, according to a Reuters report.

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According to the American manufacturer, 43 airplanes are now operating on a regular basis: this represents about 45% of the total number of 737 MAX aircraft in the hands of Chinese carriers.

See also: Boeing 737 MAX in China: historic first scheduled flight in four years

The discontinuation of the Boeing 737 MAX in China

In March 2019, the Asian country was one of the first to suspend all flights of the 737 MAX following the crash of Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 302, the second of the model in less than four months.

Since December 2020, and following the safety upgrades implemented, the 737 MAX has progressively re-entered commercial service worldwide. However, China was the exception. Geopolitical tension with the United States complicated the situation and all equipment belonging to Chinese airlines remained grounded until January 2023.

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In September 2022, the manufacturer had announced that it would begin withdrawing engines from Chinese operators’ inventories in order to support new production. In mid-month, Boeing CEO David Calhoun suggested that the company would begin remarketing the airplanes.

Nearly a hundred aircraft remained on the ground, while about 150 deliveries were still pending, and the manufacturer was unwilling to maintain that stock. Therefore, the return of the 737 MAX to regular service in China eased the situation. The reactivation is a positive sign for the manufacturer and its intention to regain business in one of the largest airline markets globally.

See also: Hainan Airlines is the second Chinese carrier to resume Boeing 737 MAX operations