Allegiant Air fleet of MD-80s back in service
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Allegiant Air says its fleet of MD-80 aircraft is back in service after an overhaul of emergency exit slides.
Company spokeswoman Jessica Wheeler said Monday that service was normal nationwide, with no delays or cancellations because of the maintenance work.
About 10 percent of Allegiant passengers endured cancellations for several days after the airline grounded its 52 MD-80s on Sept. 19 to check and service each exit chute. The planes seat 166 passengers.
Officials acknowledged missing a 2007 manufacturer's recommendation to overhaul chutes every year instead of every three years.
The maintenance gap was discovered Sept. 16 after an emergency evacuation of an Allegiant flight in Las Vegas. No one was hurt.
Las Vegas-based Allegiant serves about 100 mostly small cities and vacation destinations including Florida, Las Vegas, Hawaii and the Phoenix area.
