TUI fly Belgium flies first 737 MAX in Europe since 2019

TUI fly Belgium is the first airline to fly the Boeing 737 MAX in Europe since the grounding of the aircraft in March 2019.

The first flight was a 737 MAX 8 from Brussels to Malaga and Alicante today, 17 February 2021. It had the registration number OO-MAX!

The airline says it might only use the aircraft once a week from Brussels as they have a very small number of flights at the moment due to COVID-19.

The 737 MAX has been grounded worldwide after two similar crashes in 2019 with 346 deaths. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) gave its approval for the return to service of the 737 MAX last month.

TUI Group 737 MAX

The TUI Group has 15 of the aircraft and 57 more on order. Four are based at Brussels and they have been carrying out flights, without passengers, to make the sure the aircraft are ready for operation.

Airlines already flying the 737 MAX include:

  • Aeromexico (AM)
  • Air Canada (AC)
  • American Airlines (AA)
  • GOL (G3)
  • United Airlines (UA)
  • WestJet (WS)

European airlines who have the 737 MAX include:

Other European airlines who actually have the 737 MAX are:

  • Icelandair – 3 737 MAX, 2 more on order
  • Norwegian – 18 737 MAX 8, no more orders
  • Smartwings – 1 737 MAX 8, 2 more on order
  • Turkish Airlines – 12 737 MAX, 63 more on order

European airlines with orders for the 737 MAX include:

Other European airlines with orders for the 737 MAX include:

  • Ryanair – 210 orders for the 737 MAX 8
  • IAG – 200 737 MAX 8 and 737 MAX 10

N.B. Image credit: TUI fly Belgium

Internet links

TUI fly Belgium (TB)

Boeing 737 MAX Updates