INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TOURISM, TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY LAW Keywords: Boeing 737-9 MAX, Alaska Airlines incident, cabin depressurization, FAA, EASA, Airworthiness Directive, aviation safety, aircraft certification, regulatory framework. 1. REGULATORY FRAMEWORK AND COMPETENT ORGANIZATIONS IN AIRWORTHINESS MATTERS First of all, it should be recalled that the ability or suitability of an aircraft to fly safely in airspace, understood as safety, is the basic priority of aviation. For this reason, in order to guarantee their performance and safety or airworthiness, aircraft and their systems are subject to rigorous verification processes of their design, maintenance and operation characteristics. However, how is airworthiness determined? To answer this question, it is essential to contextualize the aeronautical activity at the international level, since the industry has been working since its inception on the development of a regulation that seeks to harmonize the design and operation of aircraft, with the ultimate goal of ensuring their operational safety. In this regard, bodies such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) have played a crucial role in the development of principles and regulations governing airworthiness globally. Specifically, through the publication of the annexes to the 1944 Chicago Convention, ICAO has established specific provisions related to airworthiness and aircraft operation, which are adopted and implemented by Member States6. Thus, this development of soft law has been crucial for aeronautical authorities such as EASA and the FAA to develop standards and procedures to enhance aviation safety. This framework of reference has allowed the integration of recommended practices in their regulations, strengthening the safe operation of aircraft. EASA is the authority responsible for the supervision, certification and approval of products and organizations in the field of airworthiness within 6 We refer, among others, to Annex 6 on aircraft operation; Annex 8 entitled "airworthiness"; or Annex 13 on aircraft accident investigation.
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