The aircraft were grounded for more than 20 months following fatal crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia
A Boeing 737 Max aircraft near Boeing's facilities in Renton, Wash., July 13, 2020. The Federal Aviation Administration has lifted its ban on Boeing’s 737 Max, allowing the plane to return to the skies after being grounded for more than 20 months following crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia that killed 346 people. Image: Lindsey Wasson/The New York Times
The Federal Aviation Administration has lifted its ban on Boeing’s 737 Max, allowing the plane to return to the skies after being grounded for more than 20 months following crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia that killed 346 people.
It is a watershed moment for Boeing, which has suffered huge losses from both the grounding and the slowdown in global travel caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Until it was grounded, the single-aisle Max, with up to 230 seats, was a workhorse on routes covering short and intermediate distances. But the lifting of the ban raises several questions about what comes next.
When will Max flights resume?
Most travelers are unlikely to encounter the Max anytime soon.
The FAA must still approve pilot training procedures for the U.S. airlines flying the Max. The planes need to be updated with new software and wiring. And airlines hammered by a steep decline in travel have little incentive to act with urgency.
©2019 New York Times News Service