Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air defends its maintenance record

Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air spent more than $103.2 million for aircraft maintenance over a year-long span, nearly 8 percent of the budget carrier’s total revenue of $1.3 billion as of June 30, according to the latest figures provided by the company on Friday.

Allegiant conducts periodic service checks for its planes as required by the Federal Aviation Administration, with heavy-duty maintenance scheduled every 18 months, said Jude Bricker, the airline’s chief operating officer.

Bricker defended the company’s maintenance record on Friday, disputing a published report that listed a litany of safety problems that he called “outdated.”

“Every time an airplane flies, first and foremost, it complies with all the maintenance required by the Federal Aviation Administration and the company,” Bricker said Friday.

“We’re investing heavily in our fleet renewal program, and we negotiated a deal with our pilots and we had an FAA report that only found minor issues,” he said. “I feel really good about where we’re at right now.”

The Washington Post examined FAA records for Allegiant from Jan. 1, 2015, through this March, when the carrier was in the midst of contentious labor negotiations with pilots who were trying to organize a union for the first time.

Since then, the company has reached a labor pact with Teamsters Local 1224, the union representing Allegiant’s pilots. The five-year deal went into effect last month, providing an immediate 31 percent raise and improved benefits.

The incidents cited in the Post’s report occurred before the FAA conducted a three-month examination that wrapped up June 30. The examination cited “minor” issues, including a failure by crew members to consistently follow procedures, incomplete paperwork and passengers observed with excessive carry-on baggage.

Bricker said that he was proud of the results because Allegiant did not face penalties or enforcement action.

Allegiant officials have until Sept. 30 to resolve the issues. They said the company is already working toward addressing items cited in the FAA’s report.

As part of its effort to improve safety and reliability, Allegiant is purchasing used and new Airbus A320 and A319 planes by mid-2019 while retiring its older fleet of McDonnell-Douglas MD-80 and Boeing 757 planes, Bricker said.

The carrier spent $225.3 million over the past year to purchase planes, build facilities and for other capital expenditures, company officials said.

Contact Art Marroquin at amarroquin@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0336. Find @AMarroquin_LV on Twitter.