newstodate.aero

Feb 15, 2021 (newstodate): While many would be happy to trade the Nordic winter for sunny Spain, two of Icelandair's Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft have now returned to Iceland after a forced retreat in warmer air.
   Since October 2019, the two aircraft have been grounded and last stored for months at Lleida-Alguaire International Airport in Spain, but were flown back to Iceland last week by four pilots.
   The two aircraft are now to continue upgrading of systems, and Icelandair's pilot corps will also be in for retraining pending the reintroduction of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in commercial service with Icelandair, slated to be launched with the first flight on March 26, 2021, on the route to Berlin.
   Icelandair started operating its first three Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft in 2018, and delivery of six more was planned for 2019; seven Boeing 737 MAX aircraft would be added in 2020 and 2021, bringing the fleet to a total of 16 of this type.
   This all came to a halt as the Boeing 737 MAX was grounded almost two years ago.
   Now, three additional aircraft will be delivered in Spring 2021, with three more to come in 2022.
   On the sideline, Lleida-Alguaire International Airport is also home to BAA Training, a member of Lithuania's Avia Solutions Group.