Icelandair to restart Boeing 737 MAX ops by spring 2021

Iceland’s flag-carrier Icelandair plans to restart Boeing 737 MAX aircraft operations by the spring of 2021. 

“We plan to return the aircraft [Boeing 737 MAX - ed.note] to service in the spring following extensive updates and pilot training where safety is our priority,” Icelandair in a statement published on February 8, 2021.

Before restarting MAX operations, Icelandair will ferry its aircraft to Keflavík Airport (KEF), Iceland to carry out the maintenance checks as well as perform the extensive pilot training on a Boeing 737 MAX flight simulator. 

Icelandair said that the Boeing 737 MAX would be both cost-effective and environmentally friendly, giving more operational flexibility and supporting development of the airline’s route network.

Icelandair has six Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in its fleet. Currently, three Boeing 737 MAX aircraft are on order, according to Planespotters.net data. 

After the worldwide aircraft grounding in March 2019, the fleet of Icelandair Boeing 737 MAX aircraft has been stored at Lleida Alguaire Airport (ILD), Spain because of the favourable climate conditions.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued the final Airworthiness Directive to unground the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in Europe on January 27, 2021.

The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transport Canada (TC), Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC), Britain’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) have also recertified the Boeing 737 MAX, allowing it to resume commercial service.