Chinese airlines count the cost of 737 Max grounding

The grounding of the troubled Boeing 737 Max will rack up losses of CNY4b (US$579m) for Chinese carriers by the end of June. The China Air Transport Association says the 737 Max’s grounding has led to “significant losses” that look set to grow should the aircraft remain grounded. It adds that it will support its member airlines’ compensation claims, and called on Boeing to “attach great importance” to these claims, and resolve them “reasonably”. “China's [airlines] are the largest user of the [737 Max], and we are also the biggest loser from this incident,” the association says. Chinese carriers operate 97 737 Max aircraft in total. China was the first country to ground the 737 Max. No date has been fixed on when the aircraft type will return to service. <br/>