Airlines

Boeing 737 MAX makes first passenger flight in China since March 2019

On Friday, a Boeing 737 MAX made its first passenger flight in China in over four years, marking a significant accomplishment in the US aircraft manufacturer’s efforts to revive its operations in the second-largest aviation market in the world.

Flight Radar 24 reports that the domestic China Southern Airlines flight from Guangzhou to Zhengzhou took off at 12:45 using a MAX aircraft.

Boeing received the most orders at the Farnborough airshows in 2022.(Opens in a new browser tab)

The most often used After deadly crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia in March 2019, a Boeing model was placed on the ground. However, in late 2020, after modifications to the aircraft and pilot training, the model was once again in operation all over the world. In spite of ongoing trade concerns with the US, China is the last significant market to start flying the MAX once more. Domestic travel demand has recovered as China abandoned zero-COVID restrictions.

In October 2022, foreign carriers started flying the MAX to China, an indication that the first nation to ground the type following the crashes was loosening its regulations. The 737 MAX was slated to return to commercial service by China Southern in October 2022, but it was not used on the scheduled flights.

10 things about Boeing 737 max aircraft.(Opens in a new browser tab)

The MAX’s return, according to Citi analyst Jason Gursky, was the company’s first move toward restoring normal to its China operations and might pave the way for the delivery of brand-new aircraft.

In a note to clients on Wednesday, he noted that “Boeing suggested at its November 2022 investor day that its long-term financial plans do not envisage deliveries of new aircraft into China,” adding that a change in that circumstance would make its targets much less hazardous.

Due in major part to the MAX suspension, Boeing has been lagging well behind Airbus SE in deliveries into the largest aeroplane market in the world. Boeing shipped eight aircraft to China in 2022 whereas Airbus shipped more more than hundred.

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Airlines

Air India Express Aircraft Engine Part Falls Outside Delhi Airport; DGCA Orders Probe

Air India Express flight skids off runway while landing at Kochi airport

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched an inquiry following reports that metal fragments were discovered at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport after an Air India Express flight made an emergency landing on Monday evening.

The emergency landing was prompted by a detected engine fault, but fortunately, the landing was executed safely without any injuries to the passengers.

The situation began when crew members of the Air India Express flight reported an engine issue, leading to the emergency landing. The DGCA has confirmed that a thorough investigation is underway and has directed that the aircraft undergo a comprehensive safety inspection.

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The discovery of metal debris outside the airport has raised concerns, prompting the DGCA to probe whether these fragments are linked to the aircraft involved in the emergency landing. Authorities are particularly focused on whether the metal pieces, which were found near the airport, originated from the same Air India Express flight that experienced engine trouble.

While preliminary assessments suggest that the debris could be a broken blade from an aircraft engine, the exact source remains unconfirmed. The airline has yet to verify if the metal fragments are from their aircraft.

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The Delhi Police, working in conjunction with the DGCA, have initiated their own investigation to determine the origin of the metal pieces. A technical team is set to analyze whether the fragments are associated with the aircraft in question. As the investigation continues, a case has been filed with the airport authority to address the matter.