Alaska Airlines continues their fleet optimization with the exercise of options for 12 additional Boeing 737-9 aircraft for delivery in 2023 and 2024. The additional order brings the carrier’s firm order book to 93 737-9s, five of which are already in service.
On Monday (August 16, 2021), Alaska Airlines announced the exercise of options for 12 additional Boeing 737-9s, bringing their firm commitment for the type to 93 aircraft, of which five are currently in service. Last December the carrier announced a restructured deal with Boeing to acquire 68 737-9s between 2021 and 2024, with options for up to 52 additional aircraft for delivery between 2023 and 2026. So far this year, Alaska has exercised 25 of the options, including 13 aircraft in May. As part of today’s transaction, Alaska has also added 25 737-9 options to backfill the ones which have been exercised.
In Monday's announcement, Alaska Airlines’ Senior Vice President of Fleet, Finance and Alliances, Nat Pieper, said,
“We are excited to accelerate Alaska's growth, building on our solid financial foundation that enabled us to weather the pandemic. These aircraft are a prudent, long-term investment in our business that we can make while simultaneously maintaining our strong balance sheet. Boeing continues to be a terrific partner for Alaska. We began flying our first 737-9s this past spring, and we're extremely pleased with the operational, financial and environmental performance of the aircraft. The planes are exceeding our expectations – from how quiet the engines run to the greater range they provide – and our guests love them.”
Alaska Airlines’ Boeing 737-9s are configured to carry 178 guests in three classes including 16 First and 24 Premium Class seats.
Alaska Airlines and their regional partners serve over 120 destinations in the United States, Mexico, Canada, Costa Rica and Belize (from November 2021). The sustainability-focused carrier emphasizes Next-Level Care for guests, while offering low fares and award-winning service. Alaska has hubs in Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Portland and Anchorage. The carrier is a member of the oneworld global alliance, and along with their Global Partners, Alaska Airlines’ guests can earn and redeem miles on flights to more than 1,000 global destinations on over 20 airlines. Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of the Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE: ALK).
Source: Alaska Airlines
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