B737 MAX flights, which were grounded following the two fatal accidents, are now being permitted to resume in China by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). Fuzhou Airlines became the third domestic Chinese airline to bring back the B737 MAX on February 15, 2023 when it flew its first B737 MAX FU6581 from Fuzhou Changle International Airport (FOC) to Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport (CGO).
China Southern Airlines and Hainan Airlines are the first two airlines to complete all the steps necessary for the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) to allow the B737 MAX to begin operating for commercial purposes. China Southern Airlines B737 MAX flight CZ3960 made a flight on January 13, 2023, from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) to Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport (CGO). Hainan Airlines’ B737 MAX departed from Haikou Meilan International Airport (HAK) and arrived at Kunming Changshui International Airport (KMG) on February 1, 2023. The number of flights is still limited because the airlines are not using all of their B737 MAX aircraft. Hainan Airlines consists of 11 B737 MAX aircraft, only two of which are now in service. China Southern Airlines has 24 B737 MAX aircraft, of which six are currently in service.
If we look at the B737 MAX’s utilization rate, we can observe that the fleet is only used for short journeys, such as one or two round trips lasting 4 hours or 8hrs. China is very carefully reintroducing the B737 MAX to the blue sky after passing the flying test.
By : Rida Khan ( Aviation Author)
Instagram A/c : aviationauthor.ridakhan

