A good number of airlines and national aviation authorities have grounded their 737 MAX fleet in the wake of the crash of Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 on March 10, 2019. Thus far, Chinese and Indonesian regulators along with Ethiopian Airlines, Aeromexico, Cayman Airways, Comair, GOL, MIAT Mongolian Airlines, and Royal Air Maroc have temporarily halted 737 MAX flights.
Cayman Airways has grounded their fleet of two 737 MAX 8, VP-CIW and VP-CIX. The airline took delivery of its second MAX 8 (-CIX) just last Thursday and has not yet sent it into commercial service. The Chinese Civil Aviation Administration has ground all 737-8 (737 MAX 8) aircraft belonging to domestic operators until further notice. South African British Airways franchisee Comair has also grounded its fleet of one 737 MAX 8 (ZS-ZCA)). Its second MAX 8 is currently undergoing test flights prior to delivery in Seattle.
Ethiopian Airlines has grounded its four remaining 737 MAX 8 aircraft. ET-AVI, ET-AVL, ET-AVK, and ET-AVM remain in Addis Ababa at this time. GOL Linhas Aereas of Brazil has grounded their 737 MAX fleet of seven aircraft as of 20:00 local time March 11. In its announcement GOL stated that its MAX fleet has conducted 2,933 flights totaling more than 12,700 hours without incident. Indonesia’s civil aviation authority has ordered Indonesian operated 737 MAX grounded until further notice. The Indonesian order affects 10 Lion Air craft and one Garuda Indonesia aircraft.
In a similar development, MIAT Mongolian Airlines has grounded their sole 737 MAX 8, registered EI-MNG. Reuters, citing a Royal Air Maroc official speaking on the condition of anonymity, says that the airline has temporarily grounded its 737 MAX aircraft. The airline has taken delivery of two MAX 8s, CN-MAX and CN-MAY, but has only put -MAX into service thus far.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has temporarily suspended operation of the Boeing 737 MAX through Singapore, effective 1400 local time (0600 UTC) March 12. Singapore carrier Silk Air operates six (6) 737 MAX 8 aircraft. Other airlines that also operate 737 MAX aircraft in/out of Singapore will be affected as well, including China Southern Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, Shandong Airlines and Thai Lion Air. At the moment, Thai Lion Air is the only one of those airlines still operating the 737 MAX.
