Alaska Airlines is seeking $160 million in compensation from Boeing after the grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft, according to a regulatory filing. The airline said in the filing that it had reached an agreement with Boeing to cover costs incurred as a result of the grounding, which followed the incident of cabin panel blowout mid-air.
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Alaska Airlines is one of the largest operators of the 737 MAX 9, with 32 of the aircraft in its fleet. The grounding of the aircraft forced the airline to cancel thousands of flights and caused significant financial losses. Boeing has agreed to pay Alaska Airlines $120 million in cash and provide $40 million in flight credits. The airline said it will use the compensation to cover costs such as increased fuel expenses, lost revenue, and the cost of leasing replacement aircraft.
The agreement between Alaska Airlines and Boeing is the latest in a series of settlements between the aircraft manufacturer and airlines affected by the 737 MAX grounding. Boeing has already agreed to pay more than $2 billion in compensation to airlines around the world. The 737 MAX was grounded worldwide in March 2019 after two fatal crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia killed a total of 346 people. The aircraft was cleared to fly again in November 2020 after Boeing made design changes to the aircraft's flight control system.
However, the grounding of the 737 MAX has had a lasting impact on Boeing and the airline industry. Boeing's reputation has been damaged, and the company has lost billions of dollars in revenue. Airlines have also been forced to adjust their schedules and operations, and some have reported financial losses as a result of the grounding. The agreement between Alaska Airlines and Boeing is a significant step towards resolving the financial impact of the 737 MAX grounding. However, it is unclear how much more compensation Boeing will have to pay to other airlines affected by the grounding.