Alaska Airlines Advances Towards Recovery: Boeing 737 MAX 9 Inspections Successful

Alaska Airlines has successfully completed inspections on its primary batch of Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft. This significant development follows an in-flight cabin explosion reported earlier in the month. In validating these inspection criteria, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has set the stage for further assessments to be kick-started on Wednesday evening, with Alaska Airlines already operating some MAX 9 flights since Friday afternoon. Flight 1146, from Seattle to San Diego, marked the first of these flights.

The Procedure and Its Impact

End-to-end inspection indicators suggest approximately 12 hours per aircraft. Estimated completion of all inspections is assumed by the end of the coming week. This advancement will grant Alaska Airlines the ability to rejuvenate its complete flight schedule, a development much anticipated by the aviation industry. Earlier on January 6, the grounding of 171 MAX 9s led Alaska and United Airlines to abort thousands of flights, causing notable disruptions and financial complications.

Reviving Faith in Air Travel

Stan Deal, CEO of Boeing Commercial Airlines, in an address to his staff emphasized on the meticulous planning and execution of the inspection criteria by the Boeing team. More importantly, these efforts are not restricted to the safe return of MAX 9 to service. Restoring faith among passengers, regulators, and the public is equally significant. The aviation industry had been beset with safety concerns relating to MAX 9, leading to a short-lived fall in booking volumes. Nevertheless, Alaska Airlines anticipates a slow, but steady, recovery in confidence in the safety measures of the aircraft.

Back on Track

Copa Airlines, Panama’s national carrier, became the first to return a MAX 9 to service on Thursday. This marks a pivotal moment in the industry’s progressive return to normal. Concurrently, other U.S. airlines, including United, are preparing to resume MAX 9 operations following FAA clearance. The successful reintegration of MAX 9 within Alaska Airlines’ operations exemplifies the industry’s collective efforts to bounce back from the aftermath of the grounding.