SIA group to bring B737 Max fleet out of desert

Singapore: Singapore Airlines Group will "progressively" bring back four remaining Boeing 737 Max aircraft to Singapore from storage in Australia, as a cabin retrofit programme gets underway for the type.
The Star Alliance carrier disclosed this following the completion of a test flight of a SIA Max from Singapore - apparently its first such flight from the city state since its grounding two years ago.
SilkAir had six Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft, before the type was subject to a global grounding.
Responding to queries, SIA said, "This was a post-modification test flight, conducted after the installation of a communications antenna related to the aircraft's cabin retrofit programme."                                          aviation news bd
SIA said there are now two 737 Max aircraft already back in Singapore, and it would be returning the rest "progressively".
The 737 Max is still banned from flying into Singapore, as well as in most parts of the Asia-Pacific region, following two fatal crashes that killed 346 people in 2018 and 2019. Other regions, including the US and European Union have already lifted the ban on 737 Max flights.
While SIA did not disclose a possible return to service timeline, it said, "We will continue to work with and be guided by our regulators on Boeing 737-8 MAX operations. The safety of our customers and staff is our top priority."           aviation news bd
Singapore's civil aviation authority has not indicated when the type's grounding will be lifted, stating in January that its review of the aircraft's airworthiness was still ongoing.