Xiamen Airlines, a subsidiary of China Southern Airlines (ZNH), reportedly is preparing its fleet of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft for a return to service, a sign that the 737 MAX might soon be recertified to operate in China. 

On April 6, 2021, Xiamen Airlines told the Chinese media outlet the Global Times that it was modifying its Boeing 737 MAX airplanes after the technical guidelines issued by Boeing. 

However, despite the preparations, Xiamen Airlines does not have an actual timetable for the 737 MAX return to service, as the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), being one of the last major regulators not to lift the ban, has yet to grant the recertification of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. 

"From the current situation, the major safety concerns that were raised by the CAAC has not been fully met, and for this reason, the relevant technological review has not entered the certified airworthiness phase," Dong Zhiyi, the deputy head of the CAAC said at a Ministry of Transport press conference on March 1, 2021. 

Currently, Xiamen Airlines has a total of 10 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, according to the Planespotter.net data. All of the airline’s 737 MAX airplanes are still parked in the Northern part of China. 

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