TUI is the first to resume Boeing 737 MAX operations in Europe
On 17 February, TUI resumed flights using the 737 MAX from Belgium. The airline flew the aircraft to Spain and became the first European airline to resume MAX flights after the jet’s grounding.
The first flight departed at 09:43 local time in Brussels and landed at 12:14 local time in Malaga. After about an hour on the ground, the aircraft left Malaga and arrived at 14:20 in Alicante. It was a Belgian-registered 737 MAX 8 that the carrier received in 2018, according to radabox.com.
TUI fly Belgium has four 737 MAX 8 aircraft in its fleet. They were parked at Brussels Airport for almost two years.
After EASA cleared the 737 MAX to fly in Europe, airlines one after another started claiming their set dates for Boeing 737 MAX return. Czech airline Smartwings has planned 737 MAX flights from 25 February. Norwegian is expected to follow from March 1st. Icelandair said it would bring the 737 MAX back this spring.