Reuters
Alaska Air Group forecast current-quarter profit above estimates on Thursday, driven by expectations of a strong summer season as travel demand soars. The airline, the operator of the Boeing plane that suffered a mid-air cabin blowout in January, also reported a smaller loss in the first quarter, despite a $162 million impact from the more-than-two-week grounding of its 737 MAX 9 aircraft. In an interview with Reuters on Thursday, CFO Shane Tackett said Alaska has deployed more of its inspectors at Boeing's factories since the January incident to ensure the jetmaker produces the highest quality aircraft that it can confidently fly safely.