Ethiopian Airlines’ B737 MAX returns to skies after 3 years

Ethiopian Airlines has officially announced the return of its B737 MAX back to the skies after three years of inactivity.

The airline said the aircraft, which was grounded after a fatal crash in 2019, has resumed operations with the airline’s Board Chairman and Executives, Boeing Executives, Ministers, Ambassadors, government officials, journalists, and customers on board the first flight.

Speaking on the return of the aircraft, the Chief Executive Officer, Ethiopian Airlines Group, Tewolde GebreMariam said the B737 MAX has been recertified by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other regulatory agencies.

According to him, the airline has taken time to monitor the design and modifications on the aircraft and was confident of its decision to release the aircraft back to operation.

“Safety is the topmost priority at Ethiopian Airlines and it guides every decision we make and all actions we take. It is in line with this guiding principle that we are now returning the B737 MAX to service not only after the recertification by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration), EASA of Europe, Transport Canada, CAAC, ECAA, and other regulatory bodies but also after the fleet type’s return to service by 36 airlines around the world.

“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 and we have ensured that our pilots, engineers, aircraft technicians, and cabin crew are confident on the safety of the fleet.

“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,” said GebreMariam.

The airline also said 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.

As regards safety concerns of the general public, the airline said it was conscious that its decisions were in line with safety, having undergone “rigorous and comprehensive processes’’ to ensure that all its aircraft are safe in the sky.

Expressing confidence in its safety decisions, the airline said it currently has four B737 MAX in its fleet and has ordered for 25 more, which would be delivered this year.