A U.S. Department of Transportation official said Wednesday that it is “highly unlikely” that ValuJet Airlines Inc. will be flying scheduled flights before September of this year because of the length of the recertification process.
Transportation Department spokesman Bill Schultz said that the department will not have completed its fitness review of ValuJet before September.
The department has not taken any action on ValuJet’s application for recertification. When it does, though, it will first issue a “show cause” order, giving interested parties 15 days to submit comments telling why ValuJet should or should not be allowed to resume scheduled flights. Any move by the department to return the controversial airline to service is certain to draw opposition.
The union that represents some of ValuJet’s 600 flight attendants has already filed a 200-plus page document, asking the Department of Transportation to find the airline unfit to resume service unless Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Robert Priddy and President and Chief Operating Officer Lewis Jordan step down.
Jordan had earlier predicted the airline would be carrying passengers again by Aug. 23.
