Boeing Co. is holding workshops with Chinese airlines about the grounded 737 Max plane as it tries to bring the troubled jetliner back into operation after deadly crashes forces its grounding. Boeing invited pilots and engineers from China Southern Airlines Co. to a gathering in Guangzhou Monday, according to an emailed statement from Boeing. More such workshops will be held with Air China Ltd., China Eastern Airlines Corp., Xiamen Airlines Co. and Hainan Airlines Holding Co. in their respective hubs this week. The gatherings are among the latest steps Boeing is taking to bring the plane back, though the exact timing remains unclear. Boeing is redesigning the plane’s flight-control system and aims to present a final software package to regulators by September, though the timeline could slip, a person familiar with the plans said. China Southern and Air China are among Chinese carriers seeking compensation from the U.S. manufacturer for order delays and losses caused by the grounding of the 737 Max in the wake of two deadly crashes. The grounding affected 96 Chinese planes, and the airlines were planning to introduce a further 130 of the planes this year, the secretary-general of the China Air Transport Association said in May.
China Southern has held the first of several planned workshops with Chinese carriers, as it seeks to re-establish trust, ahead of its 737 Max 's return to flight. Chinese airlines, including Air China and China Southern , are seeking compensation for order delays and losses due to the grounding. Boeing aims to present final software to regulators this week but insiders said no specific date was given.