Jamie Freed and Stella Qiu

BEIJING/SYDNEY -A Chinese official stated Friday that the regulator for aviation in China expects the airlines to resume commercial operations with Boeing (NYSE) Co 737 MAX at the end of the year or beginning next year.

On Thursday, the Civil Aviation Administration of China provided a checklist of possible fixes to the MAX before it returns to service.

Boeing called this a “important milestone” and sent shares up 7.5%, pushing them up 1.73% for the largest one-day percentage gain in March.

Yang Zhenmei, CAAC official, said the aircraft will have to be altered and taken out of storage. The pilots will need additional training before existing MAX in China can resume commercial operations and Boeing can start deliveries of new airplanes.

The status of China’s banning of the MAX in its airspace has been a matter of concern to her. This ban also prevents foreign operators from flying this plane into China.

Boeing sold one quarter of its planes annually to Chinese customers before the MAX crashed.

Boeing’s Chief Executive David Calhoun indicated in October that they were working to get Chinese approvals before the end of this year to allow the MAX to fly. Delivery is expected to resume in 2020.

Boeing indicated that about one third of the approximately 370 MAX aircrafts undeliverable are in storage and were intended for Chinese customers.

Additional countries in Asia-Pacific, including Singapore, South Korea and India as well as Australia, Japan, Australia, Fiji, have also approved the MAX’s return.

Singapore Airlines (OTC) Ltd stated last month that it expects to resume MAX flights by the end of 2011, stating that this was dependent on countries removing airspace restrictions.