Alaska Airlines has exercised 52 existing Boeing 737 MAX Family options, including 42 737-10 and 10 737-9 jets, for delivery between 2024 and 2027. The carrier also secured rights for an additional 105 airplanes through 2030, marking Alaska's largest Boeing order in history.
On Wednesday (October 26, 2022), Boeing announced that Alaska Airlines has exercised existing options for 52 Boeing 737 MAX Family aircraft, including 42 737-10s and 10 737-9s, for delivery from 2024 through 2027. Additionally, Alaska Airlines has secured rights for 105 additional airplanes through 2030, marking the carrier’s largest Boeing order in their 90 year history. The fuel-efficient Boeing 737 MAX Family airplanes will help Alaska meet their short and long-term growth strategy. Including today’s agreement, Alaska Airlines’ unfilled orderbook for 737 MAX airplanes totals more than 100 jets, and by the end of 2023, the carrier expects to have an all-Boeing mainline fleet.
In Wednesday’s announcment, Alaska Airlines’ CEO, Ben Minicucci, said,
“This investment secures aircraft to optimize our growth through the next decade, which we know will be a formidable competitive advantage. 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.”
Also commenting on the order, Boeing Commercial Airplanes’ CEO, Stan Deal, said,
“As Alaska Airlines sustainably grows its fleet, the 737 MAX family offers environmental performance and flexibility to expand service across its route network. Built in our Renton factory near Alaska’s headquarters in Washington state, these airplanes will carry passengers to destinations for years to come.”
Currently, Alaska Airlines operates 35 Boeing 737-9 MAX airplanes, configured for 178 passengers, and expects to accept delivery of another 43 MAX aircraft by the end of 2023. The carrier will utilize the new 737-10s, the largest member of the MAX Family, to provide further route flexibility. The 737-10 MAX can accommodate 204 passengers in a two-class configuration, and has a range of 3,100 nautical miles. The efficient aircraft will deliver a fuel burn and emissions reduction of 20 percent compared to previous generation aircraft.
Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-9 MAX Gallery - Courtesy Alaska Airlines
With today’s order and secured rights, Alaska Airlines will potentially operate over 250 737 MAX airplanes by 2030, including 737-8, 737-9, and 737-10 models. The carrier has full flexibility to shift between the different models as appropriate. The new MAX aircraft will join Alaska Airlines’ fleet of Boeing 737-900ERs, 727-900s, 737-800s and 737-700s. As previously announced, Alaska plans on sunsetting their remaining Airbus aircraft by the end of 2023.
Source(s): Boeing, Alaska Airlines
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