All 737 MAX aircraft have been grounded since 13 March as regulators await Boeing’s software update to the 737 MAX flight control system. Airlines and regulators around the world grounded the aircraft piecemeal in the wake of crash of Ethiopian flight 302 before the FAA grounded the fleet.

Airborne Boeing 737 MAX 8 (B38M)

1 April 20:00 UTC — FAA Statement

The US FAA issued a statement 1 April indicating it will be at least some ‘weeks’ before a software update for the Boeing 737 MAX is received and certified by the regulator.

The FAA expects to receive Boeing’s final package of its software enhancement over the coming weeks for FAA approval. Time is needed for additional work by Boeing as the result of an ongoing review of the 737 MAX Flight Control System to ensure that Boeing has identified and appropriately addressed all pertinent issues. Upon receipt, the FAA will subject Boeing’s completed submission to a rigorous safety review. The FAA will not approve the software for installation until the agency is satisfied with the submission. US Federal Aviation Administration, 1 April 2019



13 March 19:09 UTC — FAA Statement

13 March 19:00 UTC — Boeing Statement

March 13, 2019 – Boeing continues to have full confidence in the safety of the 737 MAX. However, after consultation with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and aviation authorities and its customers around the world, Boeing has determined — out of an abundance of caution and in order to reassure the flying public of the aircraft’s safety — to recommend to the FAA the temporary suspension of operations of the entire global fleet of 371 737 MAX aircraft.

“On behalf of the entire Boeing team, we extend our deepest sympathies to the families and loved ones of those who have lost their lives in these two tragic accidents,” said Dennis Muilenburg, president, CEO, Chairman of The Boeing Company.

“We are supporting this proactive step out of an abundance of caution. Safety is a core value at Boeing for as long as we have been building airplanes; and it always will be. There is no greater priority for our company and our industry. We are doing everything we can to understand the cause of the accidents in partnership with the investigators, deploy safety enhancements and help ensure this does not happen again.”

Boeing makes this recommendation and supports the decision by the FAA. — Boeing Statment



All Boeing 737 MAX flights suspended in Europe

EASA has issued an Airworthiness Directive suspending all 737 MAX and 737 MAX 9 commercial flights in Europe.

Aerolineas Argentinas

Aerolineas Argentinas announced it will temporarily suspend operations of its five (5) 737 MAX 8 aircraft.

Aeromexico

Aeromexico has stated it will temporarily ground its 737 MAX fleet. The airline operates a fleet of six (6) 737 MAX 8 aircraft.

Australia

Australia has temporarily suspended 737 MAX operations to/from the country. No Australian carrier operates the MAX, but SilkAir (already grounded) and Fiji Airways operate there.

Belgium

Belgium has closed its airspace to the 737 MAX 8.

Canada

Canada’s transport minister has grounded 737 MAX flights to/from/through Canadian airspace. This affects Air Canada, WestJet, and Sunwing.

Cayman Airways

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.

Chinese Civil Aviation Administration

The Chinese Civil Aviation Administration has ground all 737-8 (737 MAX 8) aircraft belonging to domestic operators until further notice. The below table includes all B-registered 737 MAX 8 aircraft in our database (and may include aircraft registered, but not yet delivered to the customer).

Registration Aircraft Type MSN Airline B-206J Boeing 737 MAX 8 61371 9 Air B-206L Boeing 737 MAX 8 61374 9 Air B-208H Boeing 737 MAX 8 61377 9 Air B-1178 Boeing 737 MAX 8 60906 Air China B-1179 Boeing 737 MAX 8 60903 Air China B-1180 Boeing 737 MAX 8 60905 Air China B-1220 Boeing 737 MAX 8 60899 Air China B-1221 Boeing 737 MAX 8 60894 Air China B-1223 Boeing 737 MAX 8 60889 Air China B-1225 Boeing 737 MAX 8 60886 Air China B-1392 Boeing 737 MAX 8 60877 Air China B-1393 Boeing 737 MAX 8 60902 Air China B-1395 Boeing 737 MAX 8 60904 Air China B-1396 Boeing 737 MAX 8 60953 Air China B-1397 Boeing 737 MAX 8 60872 Air China B-1398 Boeing 737 MAX 8 60883 Air China B-1399 Boeing 737 MAX 8 60880 Air China B-209K Boeing 737 MAX 8 60907 Air China B-1380 Boeing 737 MAX 8 61625 China Eastern Airlines B-1383 Boeing 737 MAX 8 61623 China Eastern Airlines B-1385 Boeing 737 MAX 8 61626 China Eastern Airlines B-1121 Boeing 737 MAX 8 43950 China Southern Airlines B-1122 Boeing 737 MAX 8 43951 China Southern Airlines B-1126 Boeing 737 MAX 8 63267 China Southern Airlines B-1127 Boeing 737 MAX 8 63268 China Southern Airlines B-1165 Boeing 737 MAX 8 62873 China Southern Airlines B-1166 Boeing 737 MAX 8 62876 China Southern Airlines B-1170 Boeing 737 MAX 8 62879 China Southern Airlines B-1175 Boeing 737 MAX 8 63272 China Southern Airlines B-1176 Boeing 737 MAX 8 63271 China Southern Airlines B-1200 Boeing 737 MAX 8 63252 China Southern Airlines B-1201 Boeing 737 MAX 8 63249 China Southern Airlines B-1202 Boeing 737 MAX 8 63251 China Southern Airlines B-1203 Boeing 737 MAX 8 63254 China Southern Airlines B-1205 Boeing 737 MAX 8 63253 China Southern Airlines B-1206 Boeing 737 MAX 8 63245 China Southern Airlines B-1207 Boeing 737 MAX 8 63248 China Southern Airlines B-1238 Boeing 737 MAX 8 63258 China Southern Airlines B-1295 Boeing 737 MAX 8 63264 China Southern Airlines B-205J Boeing 737 MAX 8 43954 China Southern Airlines B-205K Boeing 737 MAX 8 62880 China Southern Airlines B-205L Boeing 737 MAX 8 62882 China Southern Airlines B-205M Boeing 737 MAX 8 63273 China Southern Airlines B-205N Boeing 737 MAX 8 63274 China Southern Airlines B-205P Boeing 737 MAX 8 63275 China Southern Airlines B-208F Boeing 737 MAX 8 63277 China Southern Airlines B-209A Boeing 737 MAX 8 63284 China Southern Airlines B-207C Boeing 737 MAX 8 43567 Fuzhou Airlines B-207M Boeing 737 MAX 8 43620 Fuzhou Airlines B-1100 Boeing 737 MAX 8 62179 Hainan Airlines B-1142 Boeing 737 MAX 8 43559 Hainan Airlines B-1387 Boeing 737 MAX 8 62196 Hainan Airlines B-1388 Boeing 737 MAX 8 62199 Hainan Airlines B-1389 Boeing 737 MAX 8 62192 Hainan Airlines B-1390 Boeing 737 MAX 8 62183 Hainan Airlines B-206Q Boeing 737 MAX 8 62180 Hainan Airlines B-207H Boeing 737 MAX 8 60706 Hainan Airlines B-207K Boeing 737 MAX 8 43561 Hainan Airlines B-207S Boeing 737 MAX 8 60707 Hainan Airlines B-207T Boeing 737 MAX 8 62181 Hainan Airlines B-206Y Boeing 737 MAX 8 43952 Kunming Airlines B-206Z Boeing 737 MAX 8 43953 Kunming Airlines B-1143 Boeing 737 MAX 8 61852 Lucky Air B-206N Boeing 737 MAX 8 43560 Lucky Air B-207P Boeing 737 MAX 8 43617 Lucky Air B-1157 Boeing 737 MAX 8 60705 OKAir B-1485 Boeing 737 MAX 8 60704 OKAir B-1120 Boeing 737 MAX 8 61443 Shandong Airlines B-1271 Boeing 737 MAX 8 61441 Shandong Airlines B-1275 Boeing 737 MAX 8 61440 Shandong Airlines B-205C Boeing 737 MAX 8 61444 Shandong Airlines B-207F Boeing 737 MAX 8 61445 Shandong Airlines B-208G Boeing 737 MAX 8 61446 Shandong Airlines B-208N Boeing 737 MAX 8 61447 Shandong Airlines B-1149 Boeing 737 MAX 8 61633 Shanghai Airlines B-1150 Boeing 737 MAX 8 61632 Shanghai Airlines B-1152 Boeing 737 MAX 8 61631 Shanghai Airlines B-1259 Boeing 737 MAX 8 61627 Shanghai Airlines B-1260 Boeing 737 MAX 8 61628 Shanghai Airlines B-1261 Boeing 737 MAX 8 61629 Shanghai Airlines B-1263 Boeing 737 MAX 8 61630 Shanghai Airlines B-1379 Boeing 737 MAX 8 61622 Shanghai Airlines B-1381 Boeing 737 MAX 8 61624 Shanghai Airlines B-1382 Boeing 737 MAX 8 61621 Shanghai Airlines B-208M Boeing 737 MAX 8 61634 Shanghai Airlines B-208W Boeing 737 MAX 8 61636 Shanghai Airlines B-1146 Boeing 737 MAX 8 61135 Shenzhen Airlines B-1160 Boeing 737 MAX 8 61136 Shenzhen Airlines B-206M Boeing 737 MAX 8 61138 Shenzhen Airlines B-207D Boeing 737 MAX 8 61141 Shenzhen Airlines B-207E Boeing 737 MAX 8 61140 Shenzhen Airlines B-208J Boeing 737 MAX 8 61142 Shenzhen Airlines B-1116 Boeing 737 MAX 8 42959 Xiamen Air B-1117 Boeing 737 MAX 8 43829 Xiamen Air B-1118 Boeing 737 MAX 8 43830 Xiamen Air B-1136 Boeing 737 MAX 8 43831 Xiamen Air B-1137 Boeing 737 MAX 8 43857 Xiamen Air B-1139 Boeing 737 MAX 8 43858 Xiamen Air B-1288 Boeing 737 MAX 8 42956 Xiamen Air B-1289 Boeing 737 MAX 8 42957 Xiamen Air B-1290 Boeing 737 MAX 8 42958 Xiamen Air B-208L Boeing 737 MAX 8 42960 Xiamen Air

Comair

South African British Airways franchisee Comair has grounded its fleet of one 737 MAX 8 (ZS-ZCA). Its second MAX 8 is currently undergoing test flights prior to delivery in Seattle.

Copa Airlines

Copa Airlines is grounding its fleet of 5 active 737 MAX 9 aircraft. Its sixth MAX was recently delivered and is not yet in service.

Ethiopian Airlines

Ethiopian Airlines has grounded its four remaining 737 MAX 8 aircraft. ET-AVI, ET-AVK, ET-AVL, and ET-AVM remain in Addis Ababa at this time.

Germany

According to Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer, Germany has banned the 737 MAX 8 from its airspace.

GOL Linhas Aéreas

GOL Linhas Aéreas of Brazil has grounded their 737 MAX fleet of seven aircraft as of 20:00 local time 11 March. In its announcement GOL stated that its MAX fleet has conducted 2,933 flights totaling more than 12,700 hours without incident.

Icelandair

Icelandair has grounded its fleet of 3 active 737 MAX 8 aircraft. The airline took delivery of its fourth MAX 8 on 04 March, but has not yet put that aircraft into service and a fifth is scheduled for delivery soon.

India civil aviation authority

The India civil aviation authority has banned 737 MAX flights in India. Indian carrier SpiceJet is most affected with a fleet of 14 737 MAX 8 aircraft.

Indonesia civil aviation authority

Indonesia’s civil aviation authority has ordered Indonesian operated 737 MAX grounded until further notice. The Indonesian order affects 10 Lion Air aircraft and one Garuda Indonesia aircraft.

Ireland

The IAA has issued instructions to stop any commercial passenger flights on Boeing 737 MAX from any operator arriving, departing or overflying Irish airspace.

Italy

Italy has closed its airspace to 737 MAX 8 aircraft. This affects all commercial flights in, out and through Italy. Air Italy operates an active fleet of 3 737 MAX 8 aircraft.

Kuwait

Kuwait has suspended 737 MAX operations to and from Kuwait.

Malaysia

Malaysia has banned 737 MAX flights in its airspace. No Malaysian carrier operates the MAX.

MIAT Mongolian Airlines

MIAT Mongolian Airlines has grounded their sole 737 MAX 8, registered EI-MNG.

Netherlands

Netherlands has closed its airspace to the 737 MAX 8.

New Zealand

New Zealand has temporarily banned the 737 MAX from its airspace, affecting Fiji Airway’s flights.

Norway

Norway has now banned 737 MAX 8 aircraft from its airspace.

Norwegian

Norwegian, citing the advice of European regulators, has grounded its fleet of 18 737 MAX 8 aircraft.

Oman

The Oman Authority for Civil Aviation announced it is temporarily suspending operations of 737 MAX in and out of Oman. This affects Oman Air’s fleet of five (5) 737 MAX 8.

Poland

Polish authorities have banned 737 MAX operations. LOT operates a fleet of five (5) 737 MAX 8 aircraft. Other airlines operate the MAX 8 in/out of Poland as well.

Royal Air Maroc

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.

S7 Airlines

S7 Airlines (operated by Globus) has temporarily suspended their 737 MAX flights.

SCAT Airlines

In a decision ‘made jointly by the airline and the Civil Aviation Committee’, SCAT has grounded its sole 737 MAX 8 aircraft, effective 13 March.

Singapore civil aviation authority

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has temporarily suspended operation of the Boeing 737 MAX through Singapore, effective 1400 local time (0600 UTC) 12 March.



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.

South Korea

South Korea has temporarily halted 737 MAX operations. This affects Eastar Jet’s fleet of two (2) 737 MAX 8.

Sunwing Airlines

Canadian holiday carrier Sunwing is suspending its 737 MAX fleet of four aircraft, the newest of which was delivered on 11 March 2019. The carrier cited ‘evolving commercial reasons unrelated to safety, including airspace restrictions being imposed by some of our partner destinations’ as the reason for its suspension of MAX operations.

Thailand

Thailand has suspended 737 MAX operations for 7 days from Thursday, 14 March. This affects Thai Lion Air’s fleet of 3 737 MAX 9 aircraft.

TUI

The leisure carrier TUI has stated it will ground its MAX fleet of 16 active aircraft.

Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines 737 MAX flights are returning to Istanbul. Turkish operates an active fleet of 11 737 MAX 8 and one MAX 9.

United Arab Emirates

The UAE has grounded 737 MAX aircraft. Most affected is flydubai with a fleet of 12 737 MAX 8 and 3 737 MAX 9 aircraft.

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom has announced it will halt 737 MAX operations to, from, and through UK airspace until further notice. This affects multiple airlines, including Air Canada, Norwegian, TUI, Turkish Airlines, and Icelandair.