Alaska Airlines Isn't Worried About the Boeing 737 MAX

Airlines that were near the beginning of the line to receive Boeing (NYSE: BA) 737 MAX jets have been feeling a lot of pain this year. The troubled model has been grounded worldwide since mid-March, forcing 737 MAX operators to cancel dozens or even hundreds of flights a day. And while Boeing hopes to get its most important product back in the sky within the next few months, there's still no clear timeline for a return to service.

Nevertheless, management at Alaska Air (NYSE: ALK) isn't worried about any ill effects from the Boeing 737 MAX grounding. In fact, there's growing evidence that the company could be planning to double down on the 737 MAX once the grounding is lifted.

As recently as mid-2016, Alaska Airlines planned to add the 737 MAX to its fleet beginning in late 2017. However, due to a desire to minimize complexity as it worked to integrate Virgin America, a smaller rival it acquired in late 2016, Alaska later deferred its first 737 MAX delivery to 2018 -- and then to 2019.

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Source Fool.com