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VIDEO: Grounded MAX 8 aircraft soon to fly, but are passengers ready?

Public confidence remains a question with 737 MAX 8 aircraft soon to return to the skies after almost 2 years on the ground.

Pending approval from Transport Canada, WestJet plans to start flying the planes again later this month.

WestJet's announcement follows comments by Transport Canada that design changes and requirements for carriers had been validated by safety experts.

The Boeing aircraft were been grounded for nearly two years after technical issues led to two deadly crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has also cleared the MAX 8 for flight, as long as airlines implement certain design fixes and provide new training to pilots.

<who>Photo credit: NowMedia </who>

KelownaNow asked travellers at Kelowna International about the plans and most people say they have full confidence in the safety of the planes if they have Transport Canada's approval.

"I would trust that Transport Canada did their due diligence," said one young man.

But a smaller percentage of passengers still worry, "I think I would be a little bit hesitant," said another air traveller.

As of today, Transport Canada has yet to give final approval for the return of the aircraft to the skies, but that's expected to come soon. WestJet plans to start using the MAX 8 on flights between Calgary and Toronto starting on January 21.

<who>Photo credit: NowMedia </who>



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