Alaska Airlines takes options for an additional 12 Boeing 737 MAX

Alaska Airlines continues to have confidence in the Boeing 737 MAX with their airline exercising options early on 12 Boeing 737-9 aircraft.

These option aircraft have been converted into firm commitments for delivery between 2023 and 2024. This additional commitment brings Alaska’s total firm 737-9 orders to 93 aircraft, five of which are currently in service.

Continued Growth of the type

Alaska Airlines announced a restructured agreement with Boeing in December 2020 to acquire 68 737-9 aircraft between 2021 to 2024, with options for another 52 deliveries between 2023 and 2026.

This year, the airline has exercised 25 of the options, including 13 planes in May. As part of this transaction, Alaska will add 25 options to backfill the ones that have been exercised.

Alaska’s 737-9s are configured to carry 178 guests with 16 First Class seats and 24 Premium Class seats by Recaro.

Planned deliveries

Alaska Airlines published their planned delivery pattern, with adjustments for the options being taken by the airline.

The main deliveries of the type will come in earnest during 2022/2023, with a ramp-up in 2021 and a ramp down during 2024 – with the 25 aircraft in total adding to the 68 originally ordered by the airline.

In Quotes

Nat Pieper, Alaska Airlines senior vice president of fleet, finance and alliances said:

“We are excited to accelerate Alaska’s growth, building on our solid financial foundation that enabled us to weather the pandemic,” said. “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,” said Pieper. “The planes are exceeding our expectations – from how quiet the engines run to the greater range they provide – and our guests love them.”

Betting on a strong recovery

Alaska Airlines is betting on growth and a big rebound in travel, with the amount of aircraft it is adding to its fleet. With the airline proudly being all-manufacturers, the Boeing 737 MAX will replace the existing Airbus A320 aircraft the airline inherited when it purchased Virgin America.  

The extra aircraft seem to be for expansion, rather than replacement. 

With the additional options booked as well, Alaska is preparing to come out strong from the downturn. It’ll be down to its customers to push that recovery.

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