“The first Boeing 737 MAX to make a commercial flight in 20 months took off from Sao Paulo for Porto Alegre, Brazil, on Wednesday, December 9, under the colors of GOL Airlines, the first airline in the world to resume flights with this aircraft.”
Le Monde, 12/09/20
While the final report of the investigation into the ET302 crash has not yet been released and Boeing continues to withhold documents and information about the 737 MAX, the aircraft is once again authorized to fly and carry passengers.
For the families of the victims of the 737 MAX, there are still many doubts about the safety of this Boeing model (see Our Actions) and it is unbearable to know that it will once again fly the skies with people on board.
Most airlines ensure that they will allow passengers to receive a refund or exchange if they do not wish to board a 737 MAX, but under what conditions and for how long?
Because when purchasing a plane ticket, the customer never knows on which type of aircraft he will be boarding, you will find here :
- Update on Boeing 737 MAX Recertification Processes Worldwide
- The List of Airlines that have been Delivered or Ordered 737 MAX
RECERTIFICATION PROCESSES
UNITED STATES:
The Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) lifted the flight ban on the Boeing 737 MAX on November 18, 2020. Source
American Airlines launched its first flight with the 737 MAX on December 29, 2020.
“United Airlines and Southwest, the 737 MAX’s largest customers prior to the accidents, do not plan to resume flights until 2021. One is planning the first commercial flight on U.S. soil on February 11, while the other is talking about the second trimester of 2021.”
Le Point, 12/29/20
BRAZIL:
The National Civil Aviation Agency – Brazil (ANAC) also lifted the flight ban on the 737 MAX on November 25, 2020. Source
GOL Airlines has already put the MAX back into service and made its first flight on December 9, 2020.
MEXICO:
The airline Aeromexico announced that it is reopening its domestic routes with the 737 MAX and made its first flight in December 2020.
In CANADA and EUROPE:
The respective government agencies, Transport Canada and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have not yet recertified the 737 MAX, but procedures are underway.
The families of the victims of flight ET302 opposed the proposed recertification of 737 MAX by EASA in a letter in December 2020 (read the letter).
“A problem with the engine during a test flight
Le Point, 12/29/20
On December 25, an Air Canada 737 MAX, which was on a test flight from Arizona (USA) to Montreal with three crew members on board, experienced an engine problem that forced it to land shortly after takeoff”.
FLEET OF 737 MAX BY AIRLINES COMPANIES (ordered and/or delivered on 12/31/20)
EUROPE:
AerCap / Air Europa / Avolon – Ireland / Blue Air / CDB Financial Leasing / Enter Air Sp. z o.o. / Icelandair / Monarch Airlines / Norwegian Air Shuttle / Primera Air / Ryanair / SkyUp Airlines / Smartwings, a.s. / SMBC Aviation Capital / TAROM Romanian Air Transport / Timaero Ireland Limited / TUI Travel PLC
UNITED STATES & CANADA:
Air Canada / Air Lease Corporation / Alaska Airlines / American Airlines / Aviation Capital Group / Boeing Capital Corporation / Business Jet – VIP Customer(s) / CIT Aerospace LLC / Eastern Air Lines Group, Inc. / GECAS / Jackson Square Aviation / Jetlines / Southwest Airlines / United Airlines / WestJet
ASIA, EURASIA & MIDDLE EAST:
9 Air / Air China / ALAFCO / BOC Aviation Limited / CALC / China Development Bank Fin. / China Eastern Airlines / China Southern Airlines / Donghai Airlines / flydubai / Garuda Indonesia / Hainan Airlines Holding / ICBC Leasing / Jeju Air / Jet Airways / JIA / Korean Air / Lion Air / Malaysia Airlines / Nok Air / Okay Airways Company Limited / Oman Air (SAOC) / Qatar Airways / Ruili Airlines / SCAT Airlines / Shandong Airlines / Shenzhen Airlines / SilkAir / SpiceJet / SunExpress Airlines / Turkish Airlines / Turkmenhowayollary Agency / UTair Aviation / VietJet Air / Xiamen Airlines
SOUTH AND CENTRAL AMERICAS:
Aerolineas Argentinas / Aeromexico / Avolon Aerospace Leasing Limit / Copa Airlines / GOL Linhas Aereas / Goshawk Aviation Limited
AFRICA:
Air Peace / Arik Air / Comair Limited / Ethiopian Airlines Group / Mauritania Airlines / Royal air Maroc
OCEANIA:
Air Niugini / Fiji Airways / Virgin Australia Airlines