Boeing needs China to approve the 737 Max. But that won't end its epic sales drought

Boeing is finally close to getting its 737 Max back into the air again in the US. But the company still faces challenges in the critical aviation market of China, where its business woes go way beyond the troubled aircraft. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has yet to say whether it will allow the 737 Max to fly in the country after the US Federal Aviation Administration gave the green light for the plane to carry passengers earlier this week. While the US government was an important hurdle for Boeing to clear, it will need approval from other aviation regulators before airlines can fly the plane between international destinations. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency, which oversees flights in Europe, has said it expects to take action in late December or early 2021. But China's sign-off is critical. The country was the first to ground the 737 Max last year after two of the jets crashed, claiming hundreds of lives. The CAAC said last month that it has its own criteria that Boeing needs to meet before China will be satisfied with the plane again, including assurances that changes to its design are "safe and reliable. "As long as they meet the requirements, we are happy to see them resuming flights," Feng Zhenglin, director of CAAC, said last month. "But if not, we have to maintain strict examination to ensure safety." China's approval isn't just about allowing the 737 Max to fly in Chinese airspace again. Boeing's business in China has been severely damaged by years of fighting between Washington and Beijing over trade, technology and intellectual property rights, and getting back on track will be a huge challenge.<br/>