Alaska Air Cargo Restores Full Bellyhold Operations Following Boeing 737-9 Grounding

Alaska Air Cargo has said its bellyhold operations are returning to full strength following the grounding of its Boeing 737-9 aircraft on safety grounds earlier this year.

The airline said that the aircraft had passed “rigorous inspections” after the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an emergency airworthiness directive (EAD) requiring inspections of all 737 Max 9s after a door plug blew out of an Alaska Airlines aircraft in mid-flight in early January.

“They are already flying the longest routes where they are deployed most, including cross-country flights and flights between the continental US and Hawaii, returning capacity on these important routes,” the carrier said.

“By Friday we will be operating our full published schedule.”

The FAA directive was issued after the plug door failure left a hole in the side of the aircraft, although pilots safely landed the jet with only minor injuries to passengers.

The Alaska jet, with registration N704AL, was operating from Portland to Ontario, California at the time of the incident.

The FAA said that all 737-9 aircraft will remain grounded until operators complete enhanced inspections, which include both left and right cabin door exit plugs, door components, and fasteners.

“Operators must also complete corrective action requirements based on findings from the inspections prior to bringing any aircraft back into service,” the FAA added.

United and Alaska are the largest operators of the Max 9, with United having 79 of the model and Alaska 65.

Other operators of the aircraft include Copa Airlines (29), AeroMexico (19), Turkish Airlines (five), SCAT (five) and Iceland Air (four), Lion Air (three), FlyDubai (three).