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Alaska Airlines Announces Restructured Agreement with Boeing to Acquire a Total of 68 737-9 MAX Aircraft

by | Dec 22, 2020 | Featured, News, Transportation

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines announced an agreement in principle with Boeing to restructure the airline’s order to receive a total of sixty-eight Boeing 737-9 MAX aircraft with options for an additional fifty-two planes.

Alaska is scheduled to receive thirteen planes in 2021; thirty in 2022; thirteen in 2023; and twelve in 2024. The delivery schedule will largely replace Alaska’s Airbus fleet and moves the airline substantially toward a single, mainline fleet that’s more efficient, profitable, and environmentally friendly and that will enhance the guest experience and support the company’s growth.

This restructured agreement with Boeing incorporates Alaska’s announcement in November to lease thirteen 737-9 aircraft.

The agreement delivers superior economics to Alaska while providing flexibility in the final delivery schedule for the airline to optimize its fleet plan as the industry recovers. It also enables two major Pacific Northwest employers—Alaska and Boeing—to continue to support and revive jobs as the region and nation recover from the devastating impacts of the pandemic, fueling economic opportunity and growth in the coming decade.

“We are extremely proud to be announcing this transformative agreement with Boeing,” says Brad Tilden, CEO of Alaska Air Group.

“We believe in this airplane, we believe in our strong partnership with Boeing, and we believe in the future of Alaska Airlines and the incredible opportunities ahead as we climb our way out of this pandemic. We could not ask for a better partner than Boeing and we are delighted to be standing side by side with them as we work together to get our economy back on its feet.”

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“Alaska Airlines has done a tremendous job of weathering the impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic and is well positioned to return to its growth trajectory and strengthen its standing as one of the top US airlines. With Alaska’s industry-leading reputation for safety, sustainability, and customer service, we are honored that the airline has chosen to invest in its future with a significant purchase of additional Boeing 737 airplanes,” says Stan Deal, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

“We are grateful for Alaska’s trust and partnership. Our team is focused on delivering their first 737 MAX jets and helping ensure a safe and seamless entry into service.”

Alaska Airlines

After significant work to manage costs and liquidity through the pandemic, support employees and jobs, and to ensure the safety of both employees and guests, Alaska’s priority is to establish strong recovery and growth in the decade ahead.

Alaska also prefers to own aircraft when it makes the best financial sense for the company.

This decision enables the company to exit sixty-one expensive, short-term leases for its Airbus fleet that were inherited by Alaska through its acquisition of Virgin America. Furthermore, compared to the Airbus A320, the 737-9 has more seats, better fuel efficiency, lower emissions, and lower maintenance costs.

The agreement includes mechanisms to adjust the timing of deliveries to meet economic conditions, giving the airline substantial flexibility to manage its fleet in step with network demand. Alaska’s fifty-two aircraft options are for deliveries between 2023 to 2026.

TOTAL ORDERS: 68 737-9 Aircraft

Status

Announcement Date

Number of Aircraft

Existing Order

October 2012

32

Lease Agreement

November 2020

13

New Order

December 2020

23

TOTAL OPTIONS: 52 737-9 Aircraft

Status

Announcement Date

Number of Aircraft

Existing Order

October 2012

37

New Order

December 2020

15

The 737-9 will replace all A319 and A320 aircraft in Alaska’s fleet to improve the airline’s overall operational, financial, and environmental performance. With this plan, Alaska will reduce its Airbus fleet to 10 A321neos by the summer of 2023. The 737-9 is 20 percent more fuel efficient and generates approximately 20 percent less carbon emissions per seat than the A320.

Its larger, improved engines fly significantly quieter, and the Boeing Sky Interior lends a feeling of spaciousness to the cabin.

The 737-9 can also fly up to 600 miles farther, which opens the possibility of new nonstop routes and destinations.

Alaska plans to begin revenue service with its first 737-9 in March 2021, with five additional aircraft expected to begin flying by summer 2021. Learn more about Alaska’s confidence in the safety and certification of the MAX at alaskaair.com/737MAX.

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