Alaska Airlines (AS, Seattle Tacoma International) has "recalibrated" its existing commitment for B737 MAX aircraft to include B737-8s and B737-10s in addition to the previously announced and already operated B737-9s.
The carrier said in a statement that it "envisioned" a target mix of B737 MAX comprising fifteen B737-8s seating up to 162 passengers each for medium-sized and high-yield routes, seventy B737-9s with 178 passengers seats for high-demand, core routes, and sixty B737-10s with a capacity of up to 189 passengers as the "most-efficient" aircraft.
"We're excited to add these new B737 models to our fleet and continue our upgauging strategy, which maximizes our revenue opportunity with more seats while reducing unit costs. This announcement is a further step in our drive toward a single fleet featuring Boeing aircraft and CFM International engines," said Nat Pieper, Senior Vice-President (Fleet, Finance & Alliances).
The first B737-8 is expected to deliver in the second half of 2023 and the first -10 in early 2024. Deliveries of the -9s began in January 2021. Alaska Airlines will use the B737 MAX to replace its forty-two A320-200s, which it inherited after its merger with Virgin America (San Francisco).
Alaska Airlines' vice-president (network & alliances), Brett Catlin, told ch-aviation in October 2021 that the carrier was studying B737-8s.
The total fleet of 145 B737 MAX implies that the carrier has firmed (or intends to firm) its 52 options, on top of 93 firm-ordered aircraft. However, Alaska Airlines' announcement did not clarify whether it has already done so. It did not respond to ch-aviation's request for comment.
Prior to the announcement, Alaska Airlines' Boeing order book comprised ninety-three B737-9s, of which 14 have already been delivered to the airline. Besides the remaining A320s and ten A321-200Ns, as well as eight parked A319-100s inherited from Virgin America, the carrier also operates eleven B737-700s, three B737-700(BDSF)s, sixty-one B737-800s, twelve B737-900s, and seventy-nine B737-900ERs, the ch-aviation fleets module shows.
