Alaska Air Group Says It Has Its First Boeing MAX Jet
January 25 2021 - 8:52AM
Dow Jones News
By Micah Maidenberg
Alaska Air Group Inc. said Monday it accepted delivery of its
first Boeing 737-9 MAX airplane, another example of an airline
taking on the aircraft following Boeing Co.'s work to revamp its
safety following two deadly crashes.
Alaska said the plane is scheduled to enter passenger service in
March, serving the Seattle, San Diego and Los Angeles markets. The
company said it expects to place another one into service that
month as well.
In December, United Airlines Holdings Inc. became the first
airline to receive a newly produced model of the jet after U.S.
regulators ended a grounding in November. The MAX plane was
involved in two crashes that resulted in 346 deaths. Boeing has
added new software for the plane that changes the flight-control
system at the center of the crashes.
Alaska said its pilots will fly it for more than 50 flight hours
and about 19,000 miles on "proving flights" to confirm its safety
and those of the Federal Aviation Administration. Pilots will
receive eight hours of training specifically related to the MAX
jet. Maintenance technicians will also undergo fresh training
related to the plane.
"We have high confidence in this aircraft," John Ladner, vice
president of flight operations at Alaska, said in a statement.
The carrier last month restructured its order agreement with
Boeing to receive 68 737-9 MAX planes over the next four years. It
said it has options to take an additional 52 planes.
Write to Micah Maidenberg at micah.maidenberg@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
January 25, 2021 08:37 ET (13:37 GMT)
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