Why News of Allegiant Air’s Safety Record Didn’t Surprise Airline Insiders

Usually, when television news investigates a U.S. airline, insiders mock whatever the reporter has uncovered, complaining the segment got the story wrong. But after CBS' 60 Minutes aired a report Sunday about Allegiant Air's safety record, the response was different. For the most part, insiders asked, "What took them so long?" The program showed the airline has had more than its share of mid-air engine failures, smoke and fumes in the cabin, rapid descents, flight control malfunctions, hydraulic leaks, and aborted takeoffs during the past three years. Perhaps the piece was sensational. Maybe it glossed over the fact that Allegiant is improving, by updating its fleet and changing its priorities. But it did tell the public what insiders have long known — Allegiant is less reliable than U.S. major carriers. I've spent considerable time with Allegiant employees, and once visited headquarters for a briefing about safety. I doubt the Allegiant culture is as bad as the CBS pie