Alaska Airlines’ 12th Boeing 737 MAX 8, has made its way from Boeing Field (BFI) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) per a report by Nik’s News on X early Wednesday morning. The delivery of this aircraft constitutes the completion of the initial firm order for MAX 8 jets by Alaska.
Alaska already has a number of 737 Max jets operating, with many more yet to be delivered. The efficient and modernized airliners have helped Alaska grow in the post-COVID air travel rebuilding era. The airline already has a substantial firm order, but options for even more, meaning at least eight more MAX 8s will roll off the factory floor in Alaska livery, according to order data from ch-aviation.
Alaska Invests In The MAX 8
The airline has been very enthusiastic about the results it’s seen with the 737 MAX, despite the dramatic incident involving the ejected door plug in 2024. The notorious mishap was a black mark on the already checkered reputation of the 737 MAX family. In its aftermath, both the airline and Boeing have continued to invest in the latest and greatest iteration of the legendary jetliner family.
The mainline fleet of Alaska is exclusively composed of Boeing 737 variants. The Bulk of the airlines’ roster is filled with stretched fuselage, high-capacity models. The 737 Max 9 has already taken a fair share of the hangar space at Alaska, constituting about one-third of the total number of airframes currently in service.
Alaska Airlines has firm orders for at least 80 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, divided between 63 MAX 10s, 13 MAX 9s, and 20 MAX 8s, including options for as many as 105 more. Nat Pieper, senior vice president of fleet, finance, and alliances at Alaska Airlines, gave this comment in the press release that followed the company’s landmark jetliner deal:
“We have achieved terrific results with the 737-9 in guest satisfaction, economics and fuel efficiency, and we are excited for our future with the other 737 models.”
Alaska Airlines and Boeing share a deep, decades-long relationship rooted in shared Pacific Northwest heritage, with Alaska operating an almost exclusively Boeing mainline fleet since the 1960s. Alaska’s history with Boeing jets began in 1966 with the delivery of its first Boeing 727.
The airline acquired its first 737 in 1981, a 737-200 “Combi” which was uniquely suited for carrying both passengers and cargo to remote Alaskan communities and gravel runways. In the following decades, Alaska continued to invest in the 737 program and even went on to be the launch customer of the 737-900.
Below is a snapshot of the current 737 fleet owned and operated by Alaska Airlines, according to Planespotters.net data:
737 Variant
Alaska Airlines Fleet Quantity
Average Airframe Age
Boeing 737-700
14
25.5 Years
Boeing 737-800
61
17.7 Years
Boeing 737-900ER
79
9.8 Years
Boeing 737 MAX 8
12
0.9 Years
Boeing 737 MAX 9
80
3.2 Years
In October 2022, Alaska made its single largest aircraft commitment in its 90-year history, exercising options to purchase 52 more 737 MAX aircraft for delivery between 2024 and 2027. That decision expanded the total potential MAX fleet commitment to over 250 aircraft through 2030.
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US carriers make up a large share of the global 737 MAX fleet.
Riding The Boeing Roller Coaster
Boeing’s 737 MAX production issues have had a significant negative operational and financial impact on Alaska Airlines, but the airline has continued to reaffirm its relationship with its long-standing partner in the Pacific Northwest region. Together, the two companies create a powerhouse of the American aerospace industry and commercial aviation.
The incident on January 5, 2024, with Flight 1282 was the worst moment in the relationship to date. In that mishap, a mid-cabin door plug blew out shortly after takeoff because it was missing four essential bolts from the factory. Boeing paid Alaska Airlines $100 million in initial compensation to cover the losses incurred by the fleet grounding that resulted in the wake of the accident.
The Federal Aviation Administration, as well as Alaska, then inspected the planemaker’s quality and oversight, leading to increased scrutiny at the Boeing factory. Additionally, Boeing initiated a merger with Spirit Aerosystems, which is nearly complete at this time. The aerostructures maker was once a part of the Boeing house. It makes 70% of the components for the MAX family and is being brought back into the fold to increase quality control.
Since that incident, the 737 Max family has performed well for Alaska as well as many other airlines. Although the final two variants, the MAX 7 and the MAX 10, remain uncertified, that is expected to be completed in 2026, with production to ramp up immediately. Meanwhile, Alaska remains confident in its partnership and has continued to show support for the legendary American aircraft manufacturer.
