Boeing 737 Max 'to Stay Grounded For Weeks'

The global aviation association IATA expects Boeing's troubled 737 Max 8 plane to remain grounded for at least 10 to 12 more weeks, director general Alexandre de Juniac said on Wednesday.

In March, an Ethiopian Airways Boeing 737 Max 8 crashed killing all 157 people on board, less than five months after a similar disaster involving a Lion Air 737 Max 8 that killed all 189 people on board that plane.

The 737 Max 8 was grounded by US authorities on March 13 after several other countries had already done so.

Responding to a question about when the aircraft might fly again following two crashes, the head of the International Air Transport Association told a news conference: "Its difficult to say. What we understand from the regulator, at least 10 to 12 weeks will be the minimum delay."

The decision "is in the hands of the various regulators and agencies which are responsible for certification", he added.

De Juniac said a meeting was to be held "five to seven weeks from now" with airlines, regulators and aircraft manufacturers to assess "what has been done and what is still to be done to prepare a perfect re-entry to service of that aircraft".

Meanwhile, IATA did not have information on what sort of compensation might be expected as a result of the plane being grounded, he said, adding that the priority at present was to "restore the confidence in the certification process". (AFP)