On 18 November 2020, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recertified the Boeing 737 MAX ending its 20 month grounding. The 737 MAX was first grounded in March 2019 after two fatal crashes involving Lion Air’s JT610 and Ethiopian Airlines’ ET 302 which killed 346 people
The FAA has inspected the changes, such as new software, wiring, and hardware. Pilots and staff are also required to undergo additional training regarding these changes. This recertification is only applicable to US carriers flying domestically such as Southwest, American Airlines, or United Airlines.
It is expected that other aviation administrations such as Europe's EASA or Canada's TCCA will follow, but they appear to be waiting to see what happens before giving any news. The process has cost Boeing $20 billion, 450 undelivered aircrafts, and countless cancellations, so this
recertification is much needed and appreciated.
Sources: