Boeing is set to deliver a Boeing 737 Max to a Chinese operator for the first time in almost five years – a small bright spot for the airframer as it battles an ongoing quality control crisis.
A 737 Max 8 for China Southern Airlines took off from Boeing’s Seattle facility at around 11:55 local time on 24 January. The aircraft (B-20C8) was heading to Honolulu as flight CZ5073, before heading to its final destination, according to flight tracking data.
The flight marks a breakthrough in Boeing’s presence in the Chinese market, amid simmering geopolitical and economic tensions. China was the first country in the world to ground the type following two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019, and was among the last few to lift the operational ban.
The airframer is facing growing scrutiny from regulators and lawmakers over quality-control and safety issues, after a door plug blow-out involving an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 on 5 January.
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