[Update] More airlines and countries are grounding the Boeing 737 MAX

More and more countries and airlines have decided to ground the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft type after the recent fatal Ethiopian Airlines crash, where 149 passengers and 8 crew lost their lives and the second fatal crash with the aircraft type in the past five months: on 29 October 2018, a Lion Air Boeing 737 MAX 8 crashed into the sea off the island of Java shortly after take-off.

However, the causes of both crashes have not proven to be related. Following airlines and countries are taking preventive measures by grounding the aircraft type:

Chinese aviation authority CAAC: Grounds all Boeing 737 MAX operated by Chinese carriers 

• 9 Air (3)
• Air Changan (1)
• Air China (16)
• China Eastern Airlines (3)
• China Southern Airlines (24)
• Fuzhou Airlines (2)
• Hainan Airlines (11)
• Kunming Airlines (2)
• Lucky Air (3)
• Okay Airways (2)
• Shandong Airlines (7)
• Shanghai Airlines (11)
• Shenzhen Airlines (5)
• Xiamen Air (10)

In Indonesia two airlines suspend operations with the 737 MAX:

• Lion Air (10)
• Garuda Indonesia (1)

On 11 March, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has decided to disallow Boeing 737 MAX aircraft entry into its airspace.

• SilkAir

On 12 March, the Australian Civil Aviation Authority has suspended any Boeing 737 MAX aircraft from flying into or out of Australia due to safety concerns following the Ethiopian air disaster. Two foreign airlines fly these aircraft types to Australia: Fiji Airways and SilkAir. Malaysia and South Korea have followed suit. 

Oman is the first country in the Gulf to ban Boeing 737 MAX jets from operating to/from the country.

• The Sultanate of Oman has grounded Oman Air’s 737 MAX fleet.