- Despite its turbulent history, Kenya has permitted Boeing 737 Max 8 to resume flights in Kenya’s airspace.
- After grounding the aircraft for over a year, Ethiopian Airlines has also announced its plan to resume flights on the model this year in July.
Despite its turbulent history, Kenya has permitted Boeing 737 Max 8 to resume flights in Kenya’s airspace. The aircraft that was flying to Nairobi crashed in Ethiopia in early 2019, few months after it plunged into the sea in Indonesia. After grounding the aircraft for over a year, Ethiopian Airlines has also announced its plan to resume flights on the model this year in July.
In an announcement, Kenya Civil Aviation Authority Director-General Gilbert Kibe said that the Boeing 737 Max can restart operations into Kenya’s airspace as Boeing has rectified the defaults that led to air mishaps involving the model. Kenya Airways which is on an expansion drive was planning on the Boeing 737 Max 8 series to replace its retiring fleet of 737-700. Kenyan Airways’ plan to buy Boeing 737 Max 8 was shelved when the two accidents took place. Adding the Boeing 737 Max 8, it was reported was easier to conduct training and maintenance of the aircraft.
Chief executive Tewolde GebreMariam of Ethiopian Airlines has said it will retain orders for new Max planes as it is economically unfeasible to switch aircraft types. He added that their studied decision to retain the aircraft was based on thorough analysis — technically, operationally, and commercially.
It may be noted that several countries including the United Arab Emirates, the UK, and Canada among others have also lifted the ban permitting the aircraft to operate on their airspace. Boeing 737 Max 8 features like fuel efficiency, capacity, etc had made it one of Boeing’s bestselling aircraft. It delivered over 370 planes since 2017, with placed orders of about 5,000 before the two accidents. The faulty sensors of Boeing 737 Max 8 which sent the wrong information to the aircraft computer were blamed for the accidents.
