Boeing wins FAA OK for 737 MAX electrical fix, notifies airlines

Boeing 737 MAX

© APA | Boeing 737 MAX

# 13 May 2021 17:20 (UTC +04:00)

Boeing Co (BA.N) on Wednesday won approval from U.S. regulators for a fix of an electrical grounding issue that had affected about 100 737 MAX airplanes, clearing the way for their quick return to service after flights were halted in early April, the planemaker said, APA reports citing Reuters.

An FAA official confirmed that the agency had approved the service bulletins and associated instructions.Boeing sent two bulletins to air carriers on Wednesday on the fixes.

"After gaining final approvals from the FAA, we have issued service bulletins for the affected fleet," Boeing told Reuters. "We are also completing the work as we prepare to resume deliveries."

The announcement is a relief for U.S. air carriers that have been anxiously waiting to get the planes back into service before the traditional late May start to the summer travel season as air travel demand increases.

The top three U.S. 737 MAX operators - Southwest Airlines (LUV.N), American Airlines (AAL.O) and United Airlines (UAL.O) - removed more than 60 jets from service after the notice from Boeing. The carriers did not immediately comment.

Earlier on Wednesday, FAA Administrator Steve Dickson told U.S. lawmakers that the electrical issue, which had grounded about a quarter of the MAX fleet, would need a "pretty straightforward fix."

Dickson also said he was fully confident in the safety of the MAX, which was approved to returned to service in November 2020 after being grounded for 20 months following two fatal crashes in five months that killed 346 people.

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