Ethiopian Returns 737 Max to Skies with Boeing Officials Onboard
ADDIS ABABA – Ethiopian Airlines has returned its B737 MAX back to the skies on Tuesday, February 1, 2022 after grounding the type for three years.
The plane took off from its Addis Ababa Bole International Airport at midday today and touched down at the same airport about four hours later.
The airline’s Board Chairman and Executives, Boeing Executives, Ministers, Ambassadors, government officials, journalists and customers were onboard.
The airlines brought back the B737 MAX to service after the re-certification of the type by the Federal Aviation Administration of the U.S., EASA of Europe, Transport Canada, CAAC, ECAA and other regulatory bodies.
“In line with our initially stated commitment to become among the last airlines to return the B737 MAX, we have taken enough time to monitor the design modification work and the more than 20 months of rigorous recertification process,” said Tewolde GebreMariam, CEO of Ethiopian Group.
The national flag carrier has now joined 36 other airlines around the world in returning the fleet type to service.
“We have ensured that our pilots, engineers, aircraft technicians and cabin crew are confident in the safety of the fleet,” he said.
“The airline’s confidence is further showcased by flying the top executives and the board chairman and other top government officials on the first flight,” the CEO added.
The B737 MAX has accumulated more than 349,000 commercial flights and close to 900,000 total flight hours since the resumption of its operation a year ago.
Ethiopian Airlines has four B737 MAX in its fleet and 25 on order, some of which it will
take delivery in 2022.
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