Fiji Airways confirms return to service of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft after regulatory approval

Fiji Airways has confirmed the acceptance of return-to-service requirements of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft by its regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji.

Fiji Airways CEO and Managing Director Andre Viljoen says they have followed and worked closely with CAAF, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority of Australia, the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand and the US Federal Aviation Authority over the past two years in relation to the safe return of the MAX aircraft.

He says the past eight months have been spent planning for the aircraft’s eventual re-certification and reviewing all return-to-service requirements from their regulators.

Viljoen says everyone at Fiji Airways, including their pilots and technical crew have complete confidence in the safety of the MAX, given the intense scrutiny, thousands of test flights and necessary upgrades made to the aircraft over numerous months.

Viljoen also confirmed that the Full Flight Simulator at the Fiji Airways Aviation Academy was already being used to bring its pilots and technical crew up to speed with all the new and additional requirements following the re-certification of the MAX aircraft.

He adds they will continue to work with their regulators to bring the MAX aircraft into service, albeit for the limited number of freight and repatriation flights we currently operate.

Globally, 18 airlines have already returned the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to service which include LOT Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, Air Canada, WestJet, American Airlines and GOL.