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

Federal Court Imposes $100M Fine on Qantas for “Ghost Flights” Scandal

In a major ruling, the Federal Court has confirmed a hefty A$100 million penalty against Qantas for its involvement in the “ghost flights” scandal. As reported by FlightGlobal.

The court found that Qantas misled consumers by offering and selling tickets for flights that the airline had already decided to cancel. Adding to the controversy, Qantas failed to promptly notify ticket holders about these cancellations.

The penalty follows Qantas’ admission of violating the Australian Consumer Law (ACL). The airline agreed with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) on the penalty amount, aiming to deter Qantas and other businesses from similar breaches in the future.

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The ACCC emphasized that this substantial fine sends a clear message: misleading customers will lead to serious consequences, regardless of a company’s size. In addition to the penalty, Qantas has committed to paying approximately A$20 million to affected passengers who unknowingly purchased tickets for canceled flights.

This compensation comes on top of any refunds or alternative flight arrangements already provided. ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb praised the penalty, underscoring the importance of robust compliance programs red energy qantas in large corporations like Qantas.

She pointed out that Qantas has since made changes to its operating and scheduling procedures to prevent similar issues in the future.