Boeing 737 MAX lands in China amid uncertainty over return, first for Chinese customer since 2019

A Boeing 737 MAX meant for China Eastern Airlines subsidiary Shanghai Airlines had been stuck on the ground in Guam since March 15 due to a minor technical issue

It comes more than three weeks after the first MAX bound for a Chinese customer since a 2019 grounding began its journey to Boeing’s completion plant in Zhoushan

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China’s aviation regulator in early December provided airlines with a list of fixes required before its return to commercial flying, which it predicted would occur by the beginning of this year. So far, however, there have been only test flights. Photo: AFP

Published: 9:53am, 7 Apr 2022Updated: 12:18pm, 7 Apr 2022

A Boeing 737 MAX meant for China Eastern Airlines subsidiary Shanghai Airlines flew from Guam to Shanghai on Thursday, flight tracking websites showed, amid uncertainty over when the model will resume flying in China.

Flight BOE631 comes more than three weeks after the first 737 MAX bound for a Chinese customer since a 2019 grounding began its journey from Seattle to Boeing’s completion plant in Zhoushan.

The plane, painted in Shanghai Airlines livery, had been stuck on the ground in Guam since March 15 due to a minor technical issue. It landed at 12.02pm Shanghai local time, tracking websites showed.

Boeing said it was bringing the plane to its facility in Zhoushan to be closer to its customer and support a smooth and convenient delivery process.

The airplane will be delivered only when the customer is ready

Boeing

“The airplane will be delivered only when the customer is ready,” Boeing said in a statement.

China Eastern did not respond immediately to a request for comment.

The flight to Shanghai, which is in the middle of a strict coronavirus related lockdown, comes as Chinese authorities scrutinise China Eastern’s safety processes following the crash of a 737-800 on March 21 that killed all 132 people on board.

While that model is the predecessor to the MAX, analysts have expressed concern it could set back Boeing’s efforts to regain ground in the world’s biggest aircraft market and deliver more than 140 737 MAX jets already constructed for Chinese customers.