Comair Axes its 737 MAX, while Ethiopian sets Return Date for the Aircraft Type

Johannesburg-based Comair, which flies franchise services for British Airways has withdrawn its only B737-8 which has been in storage since the type’s global grounding in March 2019.

The airline still in business rescue process is reportedly in talks to cancel its remaining order for the aircraft type which it ordered from Boeing in 2013.

The ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows the carrier operates four B737-400s and seventeen B737-800s. Seven of its -800s fly under the low-cost carrier division Kulula Air, while the remainder of operating under the British Airways brand.

Still, on 737 MAX aircraft, Ethiopian Airlines is in the Final Stage to Return the B737 MAX Fleet to Service with the First Flight Expected on 01 February 2022.

Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Tewolde GebreMariam said “Safety is our 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 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 aeroplane model has accumulated more than 275,000 commercial flights since the resumption of the B737 MAX operation a year ago.”

“We always prioritize customers’ safety and I am confident that our customers will enjoy onboard safety and comfort that we have been known for,” the CEO noted.