Budget airline flydubai says it's too early to set date for Boeing 737 MAX re-entry

Dubai: Budget carrier flydubai will start the process of bringing back its Boeing 737 MAX aircraft into service.

This follows a 20-month review which involved the manufacturer, regulators, engineers, scientists, researchers, mechanics and pilots whose sole objective has been to safely return the aircraft to service, said flydubai in a statement.

Flydubai’s announcement comes a day after UAE’s aviation regulator lifted its ban on Boeing 737 MAX. The jet was grounded worldwide after crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia killed 346 people. 

“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," said Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of flydubai. "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.

“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 rejoin our fleet.”

At this stage it is too early to announce when flydubai’s Boeing 737 MAX aircraft will enter service, said the airline. “The routes on the flydubai network where the aircraft will operate will be announced at a later date.”