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Hanover / Cologne (dpa) - Tui is relieved after the European take-off clearance for the Boeing 737 Max crisis jet - but exact plans for the use of the machines are not yet possible due to the ongoing Corona situation.
Although "all the conditions for a safe and successful resumption of operations are in place," it said on Wednesday from the group after the re-approval by the EU aviation security authority EASA in Cologne.
Because air traffic is still severely restricted and the market is weak, it will take some time before the 737 Max is introduced into current business.
In addition, further preparations are necessary, the company explained in Hanover: "With our foreign airlines, we are in the final phase to implement all the required modifications and updates and to train the pilots on the changes."
In Germany you will probably need a few more months for this, the model has not yet flown here.
In addition, the markets in Great Britain and the Netherlands are currently «practically at zero».
The airline brands of the Tui Group, which are mainly used as feeders for their own offers such as package tours or cruises, previously had 15 copies of the 737 Max in their active fleet.
Almost two years ago, take-off bans for the jet were imposed worldwide after two crashes with 346 deaths.
Investigations revealed that errors in the control software were responsible for the accidents.
Now, in addition to retrofitting, the cockpit staff must also retrain, after which the flight safety of the 737 Max is restored according to EASA.
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The switch to rented replacement machines had a heavy burden on TUI finances in 2019, with profits falling by 43 percent.
The flight ban in Europe then dragged on in 2020.
The group had initially ordered more than 70 machines of the type by 2023 - in June an agreement was reached with Boeing to purchase less than half of the originally agreed units.
In addition, the period for this was stretched and Tui received compensation for the additional burdens.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210127-99-191362 / 2