Ethiopian Airlines has issued this statement:

Ethiopian Airlines in the Final Stage to Return the Boeing 737 MAX Fleet to Service with the first flight expected on February 1, 2022.

Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Tewolde GebreMariam (above) said “Safety is our top most priority at Ethiopian Airlines and it guides every decision we make and all actions we take. It is in line with this guiding principle that we are now returning the B737 MAX to service not only after the recertification by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration), EASA of Europe, Transport Canada, CAAC, ECAA and other regulatory bodies but also after the return to service by more than 34 airlines around the world. In line with our initially stated commitment to become among the last airlines to return the B737 MAX, we have taken enough time to monitor the design modification work and the more than 20 months of rigorous recertification process and we have ensured that our pilots, engineers, aircraft technicians, cabin crew are confident on the safety of the fleet. The airplane model has accumulated more than 275,000 commercial flights since the resumption of B737 MAX operation a year ago.

Ethiopian Airlines has put in place a rigorous and comprehensive processes to ensure that every plane in the sky is safe. In the next one month, we will update the traveling public on further details and progresses.

We always prioritize customers’ safety and I am confident that our customers will enjoy onboard safety and comfort that we have been known for.”