Published on : 09/12/2020 – 07:24
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Rio de Janeiro (AFP)
Brazilian airline Gol announced Wednesday that it would be the first in the world to resume commercial flights of the Boeing 737 MAX, grounded since March 2019 after two close-quarters accidents that killed a total of 346.
“Over the past 20 months, we have carried out the most comprehensive safety reviews in commercial aviation history. Safety first,” said Celso Ferrer, Gol operations manager, quoted in a statement.
The leading domestic airline in Brazil, Gol plans to return its entire fleet of seven 737 MAXs to service by the end of the year.
One of them will make a flight on Wednesday morning, but any passenger who does not feel comfortable boarding a 737 MAX will be able to “postpone their trip free of charge and without difference. rate, “a spokesperson for Gol told AFP in an email.
“Exceptional situations will be examined quickly,” he added.
The company said 140 of its pilots were trained in the United States to fly the 737 MAX. Modifications were made to the aircraft, in particular to its MCAS anti-stall system which had been involved in the two accidents.
Gol also plans to expand its fleet of 737 Max: the airline “has 95 firm orders (for purchase) with Boeing,” in addition to 20 planes that are in the United States pending delivery, said detailed the spokesperson.
The American and Brazilian authorities gave the green light in November for the return to service after several modifications to the aircraft and the establishment of specific training for pilots.
In the United States, the first commercial flight of a 737 MAX is scheduled to take place on December 29, with American Airlines.
The accidents of two 737 MAXs, Lion Air in October 2018 and Ethiopian Airlines in March 2019, plunged Boeing into a deep crisis, aggravated this year by the coronavirus pandemic, which affected the entire airline industry.
© 2020 AFP
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