Air Canada to Resume Boeing 737 MAX Commercial Operations Feb. 1

Jan. 19, 2021

On Jan. 18, Air Canada said that following Transport Canada’s (TC) Airworthiness Directive and Jan. 20 lifting of the existing Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) for the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, the aircraft ungrounding by regulatory bodies worldwide, and the carrier’s own independent assessments of the aircraft and operating procedures by its specialized safety and flight operations experts, it will be resuming Boeing 737 MAX commercial operations on Feb. 1.

“We are very confident the nearly two-year regulatory process undertaken by Transport Canada and other regulators worldwide ensures the utmost safety of the Boeing 737 MAX fleet from nose to tail, and from wing to wing. As part of Air Canada’s multi-layered approach to reinforcing and enhancing safety, our internal experts have also worked with independent specialists to conduct assessments of the aircraft and our operating procedures,” said Captain Murray Strom, vice president, flight operations at Air Canada.

“In addition to implementing all required updates and modifications to the aircraft, Air Canada has gone beyond by equipping its fleet with additional safety-enhancing features that exceed required regulatory standards. These measures are backed by our industry-leading flight operations, the extensive, comprehensive training programs our pilots and maintenance engineers regularly undergo, and our industry-renowned flight data analysis. Customers can therefore be assured that every crew member operating our fleet and the many employee teams working behind the scenes have an unwavering commitment to safety. We look forward to welcoming you onboard,” concluded Captain Strom.

The 737 MAX will gradually return to Air Canada’s North American route network as the airline continues to optimize its narrow-body fleet. All flights are operated in accordance with Air Canada’s biosafety protocols, centered around the Air Canada CleanCare+ program.

Routes operated by the Boeing 737 MAX:

Beginning Feb. 1, Air Canada’s 737 MAX will operate select flights between Toronto and Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Edmonton, Winnipeg

Air Canada will continue to deploy the fleet on routes that are best suited for its range and capacity.