Alaska Airlines on Wednesday announced its largest aircraft order in the company’s 90-year history.
The Seattle-based carrier will exercise options to buy 52 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, with deliveries set for 2024 through 2027. Alaska has also secured rights for an additional 105 aircraft through 2030.
With Wednesday’s order, Alaska will have 146 confirmed 737 MAX aircraft, up from 94 today. There are currently 35 Boeing 737-9 aircraft in Alaska’s fleet. 43 additional MAXs will arrive by the end of 2023 with a delivery rate of one aircraft every ten days.
Alaska Shows Boeing the Love
CEO of Alaska Airlines, Ben Minicucci, says Wednesday’s order positions his company on solid ground for the future.
“This investment secures aircraft to optimize our growth through the next decade, which we know will be a formidable competitive advantage,” said Minicucci. “We’re proud of the strong financial foundation that uniquely positions Alaska to make this commitment to our future and of the fantastic partnership we share with our hometown aircraft manufacturer at Boeing.
The order exercises options for 42 737-10 and ten 737-9 variants. They will be produced at Boeing’s Renton factory near Seattle. Alaska says it expects the 737-10 to be certified by 2024. However, it has the option to modify the order if necessary to account for any further certification delays.
Once the 43 additional MAX aircraft join Alaska’s fleet by the end of 2023, the carrier will become an all-Boeing fleet again. Alaska currently operates 31 Airbus aircraft it inherited when it acquired Virgin America in 2018, including 21 A320-200s and ten A321neos.
A Plane for All Market Conditions
Alaska is exceptionally pleased with the 737-9, saying its performance has exceeded expectations on economics and fuel efficiency. In addition, Alaska says its guest satisfaction for the type is overwhelmingly positive.
So it makes sense that Alaska would continue to expand its fleet by adding more of the same to its already burgeoning Boeing fleet. In fact, the carrier is on track to operate more than 250 737 MAX series aircraft by 2030. The wide variety of MAX variants in the fleet will allow the carrier to match aircraft size and capability with various types of markets.
President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes Stan Deal says the 737 MAX series offers unparalleled flexibility.
“As Alaska Airlines sustainably grows its fleet, the 737 MAX family offers environmental performance and flexibility to expand service across its route network,” said Deal. “These airplanes will carry passengers to destinations for years to come.”
Alaska currently operates 192 Boeing 737s, including 11 -700s, 57 -800s, 12 -900s, 77 -900ERs, and 35 MAX 9s.
Founded in 1932, Alaska Airlines is America’s fifth-largest airline.
