Boeing wins FAA approval for 737 Max electrical fix and notifies airlines

Boeing on Wednesday won approval from US regulators for a fix of an electrical grounding issue that had affected about 100 737 Max airplanes, clearing the way for their quick return to service after flights were halted in early April, the planemaker said. An FAA official confirmed that the agency had approved the service bulletins and associated instructions. Boeing sent two bulletins to air carriers on Wednesday on the fixes. “After gaining final approvals from the FAA, we have issued service bulletins for the affected fleet,” Boeing said. “We are also completing the work as we prepare to resume deliveries.” The announcement is a relief for US air carriers that have been anxiously waiting to get the planes back into service before the traditional late May start to the summer travel season as air travel demand increases. The top three US 737 Max operators — Southwest, American Airlines and United — removed more than 60 jets from service after the notice from Boeing. The carriers did not immediately comment. Earlier on Wednesday, FAA Administrator Steve Dickson told US lawmakers that the electrical issue, which had grounded about a quarter of the Max fleet, would need a “pretty straightforward fix.”<br/>