Washington (dpa) - One of the largest US airlines on Friday pushed back the return of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to its fleet to March 5.

"American anticipates that the resumption of scheduled commercial service on American's fleet of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft will occur March 5, 2020," the company said in a statement.

The company, who said it was in "continuous contact" with the Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation and Boeing, last month pushed the return of 737 MAX aircraft from December 3 to January 16.

The airline said it will run a schedule change on November 17 so that customers who were previously booked on a MAX through March 4 will be able to see their reservation updated.

"Once the aircraft is certified, American expects to run exhibition flights, or flights for American team members and invited guests only, prior to March 5," the company said.

The airline expects to slowly phase in the 737 MAX from that date onwards throughout the month of March, it said.

Boeing has been working to have the 737 MAX recertified after two crashes in October 2018 and March that killed 346 people. The company continues to be under pressure to correct software that appears to have caused the problem.

It's unclear when international regulators will clear the aircraft to return to service.

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