Following a mid-air cabin panel blowout incident on one of its 737 MAX 9 jets
Following a mid-air cabin panel blowout incident on one of its 737 MAX 9 jets, Alaska Air Group (ALK), the operator, has projected a narrower first-quarter loss than anticipated, attributing it to robust travel demand.
The company anticipates a quarterly adjusted loss per share ranging from 55 cents to 45 cents, notably lower than analysts’ projections averaging a loss of $1.18 per share, according to LSEG data.
This forecast accounts for a partial compensation from Boeing, the manufacturer, in response to the mid-air incident earlier this year. Additionally, Alaska Air mentions a 30-cent per share impact due to the temporary grounding of MAX 9 jets post-incident.
Despite challenges, including regulatory scrutiny on Boeing and its operations by the Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Justice, Alaska Air remains optimistic. Recent demand strength during Spring Break and ongoing recovery in West Coast business travel contribute to an expected year-over-year improvement in Q1 2024 profitability. However, the company notes ongoing uncertainty regarding full-year capacity expectations due to fluctuating aircraft delivery timings.
You might like this article:Bitcoin Surges Past $72,000 as ETF Inflows Fuel Rally