India’s aviation authority, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), ungrounded the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft on August 26, 2021.
The clearance by the DGCA is a relief for US aircraft manufacturer Boeing as it opens the doors for the aircraft operations in India and potential orders within Asia.
Indian authorities grounded the Boeing 737 MAX on March 13, 2019, due to safety concerns following two fatal crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia.
A revised order was then published by the DGCA on April 20, 2021, allowing the aircraft to overfly the Indian airspace.
The approval of the Boeing 737 MAX in India will potentially expedite SpiceJet’s operations. The airline, with 13 such aircraft in its fleet, is currently the only MAX operator in the country.