Alaska Airlines is looking to entice passengers to come back onboard after the viral video of part of the plane blowing off mid-flight dominated news stories and social media.
The carrier is offering up to 30% off for any potential customers who goes to its website—and some targeted customer are receiving emails offering up to 40% off standard fares as well as double the usual number of elite-qualifying miles for any flights next month. Flights must be booked by Jan. 31 and completed by March 13 of this year.
“We are returning to the reliable operation that you’ve come to expect from Alaska,” the carrier wrote on its website.
The discounts come after a video of a section of the fuselage ripped off of an Alaska Airlines flight went viral. The incident does not appear to be the fault of the carrier. Instead, an improperly installed piece by Boeing has been cited for the issue. Federal regulators grounded all Boeing 737 Max 9 planes after the incident, while the CEOs of Alaska Airlines and United Airlines both blasted the manufacturer for its quality control issues.
“I am more than frustrated and disappointed. I am angry,” Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci told NBC Nightly News in an interview that aired last week. “My demand on Boeing is, what are they going to do to improve their quality programs in-house?”
Alaska later reported its own inspections found “many” other Boeing jets with loose bolts.
The Boeing 737 Max 9 planes are now once again carrying passengers, with Alaska using them on a limited number of flights.
Alaska and United are the only two American carriers that use the Max 9 in their fleets.
