In response to the ongoing grounding of the Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft, Alaska Airlines and United Airlines have announced additional cancellations and disruptions to their flight schedules.

Alaska Airlines released a statement on Wednesday, revealing that all flights scheduled to be operated on the 737 Max 9 aircraft will remain canceled until Saturday. This decision was made to conduct thorough inspections and prepare for the eventual return of the aircraft to service. This cancellation affects approximately 110 to 150 flights per day, causing inconvenience for many passengers. Alaska Airlines assured their guests that they are working tirelessly to reaccommodate those affected on other available flights.

United Airlines also announced the cancellation of 167 Max 9 flights for Wednesday. However, the airline anticipates reinstating around 45 canceled flights by substituting other aircraft types. They also warned of "significant" cancellations for Thursday. According to FlightAware data, a total of 204 United flights and 121 Alaska flights were canceled on Wednesday afternoon.

The grounding of the Boeing 737 Max 9 followed an incident on January 6, where a panel blew off Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 during its journey from Portland, Oregon to Ontario, California. This prompted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to issue an order grounding all 737 Max 9 aircraft as a precautionary measure. On Tuesday, the FAA confirmed that the grounding will continue until the necessary inspections and maintenance protocols are established in collaboration with Boeing.

"The safety of the flying public, not speed, will determine the timeline for returning the Boeing 737-9 Max to service," stated the FAA.

In response to the incident, Boeing CEO, Dave Calhoun, expressed regret and acknowledged it as a "mistake." He emphasized the company's commitment to transparency and pledged to collaborate with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to identify the root cause of the incident.

As the disruptions to flight schedules persist, both Alaska Airlines and United Airlines are working diligently to minimize inconvenience for affected passengers. The grounding of the Boeing 737 Max 9 continues to impact the airline industry, highlighting the importance of prioritizing passenger safety in aviation operations.