The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has made a decisive move to temporarily halt the delivery of Boeing 737 MAX jets to domestic airlines. This action comes in the wake of a discovery made by Boeing last month, which raised concerns about a potential loose bolt in the rudder control system of one of the aircraft.
The decision by CAAC was made even before the recent Alaska Airlines incident and the January 6, 2024, grounding of the 737 MAX 9 model by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). In response to these developments, CAAC has instructed local carriers to carry out thorough safety inspections on all their B737 MAX planes. These checks are particularly crucial as they precede the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday on February 10, 2024, a time when air travel typically sees a significant increase.
The B737 MAX Fleet in China
According to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module, as of January 2024, there are 206 Boeing 737 MAX jets awaiting delivery to airlines in China. Interestingly, these pending deliveries do not include the 737 MAX 9 variant. However, it is essential to note that most orders for the family from Chinese carriers are not publicly disclosed. The disclosed orders currently have the following composition:
| Airline | 737 MAX 8 Orders | 737 MAX 10 Orders | 737 MAX 7 Orders |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Air | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Air China | 22 | 0 | 0 |
| China Eastern Airlines | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| China Southern Airlines | 44 | 0 | 0 |
| Donghai Airlines | 7 | 10 | 0 |
| Fuzhou Airlines | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Hainan Airlines | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Kunming Airlines | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Lucky Air (China) | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Okay Airways | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Ruili Airlines | 34 | 2 | 2 |
| Shandong Airlines | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| Shanghai Airlines | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Shenzhen Airlines | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| Xiamen Airlines | 25 | 0 | 0 |
Global Impact and FAA’s Response
The grounding of the 737 MAX 9 globally has been in effect since early January. This decision came after an alarming incident involving an Alaska Airlines aircraft, where its left-hand rear mid-cabin plugged exit door separated mid-flight. A total of 171 of these aircraft have been grounded worldwide. In response to these concerns, on January 12, the FAA announced a series of actions. They plan to audit the 737 MAX 9’s production line and its suppliers. This audit aims to evaluate Boeing’s compliance with approved quality procedures and increase monitoring of in-service events. Additionally, the FAA will assess the safety risks associated with delegated authority and quality oversight.
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