Alaska Airlines continues to grow its fleet, with a major order with Boeing for single-aisle and wide-body aircraft orders.
The airline is ordering 105 Boeing 737-10 aircraft, along with five Boeing 787-10 aircraft. Alaska Airlines, in the process, will add additional purchase rights for 35 737-10 aircraft, whilst exercising all held 787 options with Boeing.
This order – representing the largest order in the airline’s history – secures critical delivery slots and extends the aircraft delivery stream through 2035.
Alaska Airlines now holds an orderbook of 245 aircraft with Boeing, in addition to the 94 Boeing 737 MAX family aircraft that are flown and operated today. The order will be used to grow the fleet, as well as replacement aircraft for older Boeing 737s that the airline operates.
Currently, Alaska operates a narrowbody fleet that includes 737-9 and 737-8 aircraft, with a total of 248 Boeing 737s flying. This order is for 737-10 aircraft, but the airline retains the flexibility to adjust to a different model if necessary.
Meanwhile, the 787-10 fleet will be used to expand the international Seattle hub, with the airline planning to fly to 12 international destinations by 2030 (with five destinations currently planned). The 787-10 order will expand Akaka’s 787 fleet to 17 aircraft, with five in-fleet.
Today’s announcement comes as Alaska formally unveils its new paint scheme for its international routes.
In Quotes
Ben Minicucci, CEO of Alaska Air Group, said:
This fleet investment builds on the strong foundation Alaska has created to support steady, scalable and sustained growth, and is another building block in executing our Alaska Accelerate strategic plan. These planes will fuel our expansion to more destinations across the globe and ensure our guests travel aboard the newest, most fuel-efficient and state-of-the-art aircraft. We are incredibly proud to be partnering with Boeing, a Pacific Northwest neighbor and a company that stands as a symbol of American innovation and manufacturing.”
On the unveiling of the 787-9, he added:
As we transform into the country’s fourth-largest global airline, we are proud to introduce a new, global livery for the Alaska brand. The design is a tribute to Alaska’s rich history and a reflection of our bold vision for international growth and our commitment to connect the Pacific Northwest to the world.”
Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes added:
“This is a historic airplane order underwritten by Alaska Airlines’ record of strong performance and strategic expansion. All of us at Boeing are proud of Alaska’s success and are honored they have placed their trust in our people and our 737 and 787 airplanes to help grow their airline,”
No Changes to Legacy liveries
For those attached to the Alaskan Native on the tail of Alaska Airlines’ single-aisle fleet, which flies across North America, or the Hawaiian Lady, which flies on the airline’s Airbus A321, A330 and Boeing 717 aircraft, these will be retrained as-is.
For international destinations, the new Northern Lights scheme will be in the air.
Securing production slots
This is a major order both for Alaska Airlines and Boeing, who will be happy they are working together again, with 105 new aircraft, with purchase rights for 35 additional, as Boeing celebrates the 60th anniversary of Alaska Airlines becoming a Boeing customer.
For Alaska Airlines, the important thing is that it can secure slots in the delivery pipelines. Demand continues to be strong for airlines, as they seek to modernise, expand or even start up in cases, with narrowbody production continuing to be outstripped by demand.
And with demand for aircraft still insatiable, getting those slots secured now may not be a bad thing at all.
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