Mubasher: Saudi Arabia’s budget airline, flyadeal, reportedly unveiled plans to put its decision regarding Boeing 737 MAX order on hold pending the end of an investigation by the US aircraft manufacturer.
A total of 33 nations and around 30 airlines have banned Boeing 737 MAX aeroplanes after the accident.
In addition to the 28 EU states, the US, UK, Australia, Malaysia and Singapore have grounded the Boeing jet, while airlines included Lion Air Aerolineas Argentinas, Lion Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Turkish Airlines, and Polish Airlines.
“We are in a hold for the moment. We are monitoring and in constant contact with Boeing and will wait for the outcomes to be known before moving forward,” Reuters reported, citing flyadeal’s CEO Con Korfiatis as saying.
Last December, the Saudi carrier ordered 30 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, while 20 other under negotiations, in consideration of $5.9 billion.
Earlier this week, China, Indonesia and Ethiopia suspended their 737 MAX 8 fleet, after an Ethiopian Airlines plane crashed minutes after taking off from Addis Ababa, killing all 157 passengers on board.
