Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines does not fly the Boeing 737 MAX 9 jets that have been temporarily grounded by regulators after an Alaska Airlines plane of that type lost part of its fuselage in flight last week.
Part of the fuselage of the Alaska Airlines MAX 9 jet blew off during a flight Friday evening. On Saturday, the Federal Aviation Administration ordered the temporary grounding of certain 737 MAX 9 aircraft operated by U.S. airlines and in U.S. territory pending inspections to ensure they are safe to fly.
The inspections will take four to eight hours to complete, and affect about 171 planes in operation around the world.
”Safety will always be the top priority for our Department and for FAA,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in a written statement.
The U.S. airlines that operate the 737 MAX 9 are Alaska Airlines and Chicago-based United Airlines, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.
For Monday, United canceled two flights from Atlanta and two flights to Atlanta scheduled on a 737 MAX 9, according to FlightAware.com.
That comes after Alaska Airlines canceled two Atlanta flights that had been scheduled on a 737 MAX 9 jet for Saturday. United canceled five flights and Alaska canceled three flights to or from Atlanta scheduled on a 737 MAX 9 for Sunday, FlightAware data show.
Other carriers around the world that operate the 737 MAX 9 include Aeromexico, which is a Delta partner, as well as Turkish Airlines, Copa Airlines, Icelandair, Flydubai and SCAT Airlines, according to Cirium.
Delta does not currently fly the 737 MAX 9 or any 737 MAX jets, though it does fly other types of Boeing 737 planes including the 737-800 and 737-900ER. Delta has also ordered Boeing 737 MAX 10 jets for delivery starting in 2025.
About the Author
