Expect delays on Allegiant Air flights because of slide inspections

If you are flying Allegiant Air over the next few days, expect delays and cancellations as the carrier inspects the evacuation slides on many of its planes.

The Las Vegas-based carrier late Thursday announced that the airline was taking as many as 30 of its MD-80 planes out of service to inspect the slides.

Allegiant operates a fleet of 52 MD-80 aircraft, six Boeing 757-200 jets, and three Airbus A319 planes.

The inspections were triggered by an incident on Monday when an Allegiant MD-80 was evacuated at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas after smoke was detected in the back of the plane. As a result of the incident, the airline learned that the manufacturer of the evacuation slide requires older slides to be overhauled every year but Allegiant had been inspecting them every three years.

“We apologize for the disruption to our passengers and ask that they please remain patient as we work to correct the issue, reschedule affected flights and accommodate any passengers impacted,” said Andrew Levy, Allegiant Travel Co. president.

[Updated at 2:50 p.m. Sept. 20: Allegiant announced Friday that it would compensate passengers whose flights are delayed or canceled because of the inspections.

• Flights delayed less than four hours: $100 voucher for future travel
• Flights delayed four to six hours: $150 voucher for future travel
• Flights delayed six hours or more: $200 voucher for future travel
• Rescheduled flights: Full refund and $200 voucher for future travel]

Passengers looking for updates on flight delays should call (702) 505-8888.

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