Alaska Airlines Extends Cancellations of Boeing 737-9 MAX Flights

Alaska Airlines has extended cancellations of flights on its Boeing 737-9 MAX aircraft through Sunday, Jan. 21, while inspections continue following the Jan. 5 incident on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282. 

The airline has 65 Boeing 737-9 MAX aircraft, making up about 20% of its fleet, and has been canceling between 110 and 150 flights daily. In addition, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the incident and grounded Boeing 737-9 MAX planes across all airlines, impacting 171 airplanes worldwide. 

“We are making good progress. The findings from these inspections, and those of other airlines, will be compiled by Boeing and the FAA to determine the appropriate next steps to return the 737-9 MAX Fleet safely back to service,” Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci said in a video message to customers. “At this time, we do not yet know how long this process will take but will keep you updated as much as we can.” 

The FAA investigation is ongoing as the agency continues to review data from the first 40 aircraft inspections. The agency is working to approve an inspection and maintenance process that will then be required for every grounded 737-9 MAX plane before they take flight. 

“The safety of the flying public, not speed, will determine the timeline for returning these aircraft to service,” the FAA said in a statement. 

Alaska Airlines has a Flexible Travel Policy in effect for those impacted by flight cancellations and said they are “notifying those whose flights are canceled and working to reaccommodate them.” 

On Jan. 5, Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, scheduled to travel from Portland International Airport (PDX) to Ontario International Airport (ONT) in California, made an emergency landing back in Portland after a side panel blew off the aircraft.  

The piece of fuselage reportedly took a passenger window with it, rapidly decompressing the cabin, just about a half hour into the flight. All 171 guests and 6 crew members onboard returned safely. The aircraft had been in service for just eight weeks.