Alaska, United cancel more flights as Boeing probes ‘quality’ issue

(Reuters) — Alaska Airlines said Wednesday it would cancel all flights on 737 MAX 9 jets through Saturday as it continues to wait for regulatory approvals to resume flying after a cabin panel blowout Boeing suggested was caused by a “quality” issue.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration on Saturday grounded 171 Boeing jets with the same panel after the emergency landing, including Alaska Airlines’ 65 MAX 9s.

The move has forced the cancellation of about 20% of the Seattle-based airline’s daily schedule for five consecutive days and 150 flights for Thursday.

United Airlines, the other U.S. 737 MAX 9 operator, with 79 of the planes in its fleet, said it had canceled 167 flights Wednesday and expected “significant” cancellations on Thursday as well.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg declined to say Wednesday when the FAA may allow the planes to resume flights.

“The only consideration on the timeline is safety,” Mr. Buttigieg told reporters. “Until it is ready, it is not ready. Nobody can or should be rushed in that process.”

Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun told CNBC on Wednesday that a “quality escape” was at issue in the MAX 9 cabin blowout that left a gaping hole in the plane that had been in service for just eight weeks, but he added that key questions remained.

“What broke down in our gauntlet of inspections? What broke down in the original work that allowed for that escape to happen?” Calhoun said.

Boeing on Tuesday told staff the findings were being treated as a “quality control issue” and checks were under way at Boeing and supplier Spirit AeroSystems, Reuters reported previously.

Mr. Calhoun said he had spoken to Mr. Buttigieg and FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker to ensure there was no repeat of the cabin panel blowout on any MAX 9 after Friday’s incident.