After six long years, the last Boeing 737 MAX that had been parked at Moses Lake (MWH) has finally taken off to join the global fleet of active airliners. This marks the end of a challenging chapter for Boeing and the 737 MAX series. Back in 2019, the tragic crashes involving Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines led to a complete halt in production and deliveries of the 737 MAX. As a result, Boeing had to store hundreds of these aircraft at Moses Lake, investing heavily in the airport’s facilities and relocating staff to maintain the grounded fleet.
At the peak of the grounding, around 450 jets were stored, with about 200 parked at other locations across the U.S., including San Antonio, Victorville, and the Puget Sound area. Boeing set up a “shadow factory” at Moses Lake to manage the upkeep and prepare the planes for eventual delivery. Now, with the final delivery from this backlog, Boeing can close this chapter and shift resources back to regular production.
The last 737 MAX 8 to leave Moses Lake is headed for Air China. This aircraft, which first flew in 2019, faced delays due to regulatory hurdles, the COVID-19 pandemic, and trade tensions with China. The final batch of stored planes was destined for Chinese airlines, and they were the last to be cleared for flight. Boeing’s CFO, Brian West, had aimed to deliver these planes by the end of 2024, and this final delivery marks a significant milestone in overcoming the numerous challenges faced over the years.
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Originally reported by Simple Flying Read More
