Alaska Airlines’ new 737 Max is ready to begin service

Alaska Airlines will begin flying passengers in its new 737 Max 9 next week. Pilots and crew have already put the aircraft through 19,000 miles and 50 hours of “proving flights” over the past month. “Dozens of employees demonstrated to the Federal Aviation Administration that we can safely operate this new aircraft when it enters our schedule on Monday,” Alaska Airlines President Ben Minicucci said in a message to employees.