EASA may recertify Boeing 737 MAX next week

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has said that it expects to lift the Boeing 737 MAX ban next week, report agencies.

The head of European Union's regulator commented in a briefing on Tuesday that the Airworthiness Directive (AD) is due to be published next week, giving the aircraft clearance to fly in European airspace.

The Boeing 737 MAX is making a slow but sure comeback to the skies, as a number of aviation regulators have now approved the type for passenger service. The first to issue approvals was the US regulator, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Shortly after, Brazilian ANAC followed suit, paving the way for GOL to operate the first passenger flight since the 20-month long grounding.

On Wednesday, Canada's regulator is expected to lift the grounding order too, with airlines already making plans to return to the type to service. Now, it seems yet another part of the world will be added to the list of places Boeing's narrowbody is approved to fly.

Speaking at an online briefing on Tuesday, Executive Director of EASA Patrick Ky said that the regulator is expecting to approve the type for service next week.

"We expect to publish it [the AD] next week, which means the MAX will be cleared to fly again," Mr Patrick Ky added.