Ethiopian Airlines on Monday announced that it is in the Final stage to return the B737 MAX Fleet to service with the first flight expected on 01 February 2022.
It is to be recalled that Ethiopian Airlines B737 MAX had crushed in March 2019 shortly after takeoff, killing 149 passengers and eight crew members.
Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Tewolde GebreMariam said “Safety is our top most 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 return to service by more than 34 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, cabin crew are confident on the safety of the fleet. The airplane model has accumulated more than 275,000 commercial flights since the resumption of B737 MAX operation a year ago,” Tewolde said.
“Ethiopian Airlines has put in place a rigorous and comprehensive processes to ensure that every plane in the sky is safe. In the next one month, we will update the travelling public on further details and progresses,” he said.
Tewolde added that the Ethiopian prioritizes customers’ safety to ensure that its customers will enjoy onboard safety and comfort.
MG/abj/APA