Flydubai’s 737 Max jets will remain grounded for now until carrier is ready to deploy the aircraft on its network
The UAE’s only operator of Boeing’s 737 Max has said it is too early to say when the aircraft will return to service after the jet was cleared to fly by regulators on Wednesday.
The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has just lifted a near two-year ban on the Boeing 737 Max, meaning flydubai is technically free to begin operating the jet.
But the Dubai-based budget airline, which is the world’s second largest 737 Max customer, said in a statement: “it is too early to announce when flydubai’s Boeing 737 Max aircraft will enter service”.
“The routes on the flydubai network where the aircraft will operate will be announced at a later date,” the statement said.
The carrier said its engineers are currently “implementing the return-to-service work schedule for the aircraft and that the aircraft will be returned sequentially to the fleet following a systematic prescribed process”.
“Every flydubai pilot will undergo additional classroom and full motion simulator training before they are permitted to fly the Boeing 737 Max aircraft. This training programme exceeds the regulatory requirements,” flydubai said.
As outlined by the GCAA, every 737 Max in flydubai’s fleet must undergo software enhancements and additional protections to the MCAS; a wire separation modification; and a thorough inspection to ensure the aircraft are free of debris in addition to other measures.
Ghaith Al Ghaith, flydubai’s CEO, said: “The GCAA has outlined a clear and exacting framework of enhancements and modifications to the aircraft that must be met before returning the aircraft to passenger service along with additional and mandatory pilot training. flydubai will comply with each and every one of the requirements before we allow the aircraft to re-join our fleet.”
flydubai has a fleet of 11 Boeing 737 Max 8 and three Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft. It will be the UAE’s main beneficiary of the GCAA’s decision, with the more efficient jets set to support the airline’s pandemic recovery strategy.
Al Ghaith added: “The Boeing 737 Max is an integral part of flydubai’s fleet and I have full confidence in the aircraft as it returns to passenger service. Safety is the founding principle of our business. We said that we would only return the aircraft to service when it was safe to do so and that time is now.”
Linus Benjamin Bauer, managing director of Dubai-based consultancy, Bauer Aviation Advisory, said: “The re-launch of 737 Max operations during the pandemic will be indeed a very tough challenge in the short-term. In addition to all legal, technical and operational aspects (e.g. pilots need to be retrained and familiarised with improved MCAS function), the customer confidence in flying on that aircraft need to be restored first.
“With the pandemic still in play, the customer confidence in air travel is still low at the moment. Therefore many flydubai customers may be reluctant to get on a 737 Max at first.”
flydubai said that each of its Max aircraft underwent 18 hours of maintenance every week while grounded.
About Guide2Uganda
Guide2Uganda (www.guide2uganda.ug) is the most comprehensive source of travel information about Uganda that exists on the web, with more content on its cities & towns, accommodation, attractions, events, museums and galleries than any other online guide that currently exists for Uganda; as well as being a dynamic travel news and events driven site with fresh content added daily.
According to WeFollow & Peer Index (that measure online influence), we are among the most influential online media organizations in Uganda. Guide2Uganda was also awarded ‘’Best Destination Website in Uganda’’ by Jumia Travel Uganda in the 2018 Africa Travel Awards.
Share your travel stories & photos with the world via email: info@guide2uganda.ug
