Alaska Air Group Inc. is ordering 110 Boeing Co. aircraft, laying the groundwork for a global network with the largest investment in new planes in the airline’s history.
The Seattle-based airline said it is purchasing 105 narrowbody 737 Max 10 models and five 787-10 widebody aircraft, exercising all of its remaining options for the long-haul model. Alaska also secured purchase rights for an additional 35 of the 737 aircraft, extending deliveries through 2035.
The order builds on Alaska’s $1.9 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, which gave the carrier access to Asia-Pacific markets it had never served on its own. Alaska Chief Executive Officer Ben Minicucci has said the Hawaiian deal is central to the airline’s push to become a more globally focused carrier.
The Boeing order reinforces that strategy, signaling a willingness to invest heavily as Alaska links Seattle and Honolulu into a broader international network and pursues premium long-haul travelers. Hawaiian operates widebody aircraft and has long used Honolulu as a gateway to Asia and Australia.
The five additional 787-10 aircraft will support Alaska’s international expansion from Seattle, enabling the airline to fly to at least 12 long-haul destinations by 2030, the company said. The order brings Alaska’s firm future 787 fleet to 17 aircraft, with five already in service.
The carrier’s focus will be serving its core hubs on the West Coast and Hawaii, Alaska Airlines Chief Financial Officer Shane Tackett told Bloomberg ahead of the announcement.
“We would love to be able to fly throughout more of the country, but we have to serve these core markets completely first,” he said.
Alaska had 71 unfilled 737 Max orders at Boeing prior to the announcement. The carrier is doubling down on the single-aisle plane by making its first Max purchase since a near-catastrophic fuselage panel blowout on a brand-new 737 Max two years ago.
The deal also helps buoy confidence in the largest variant of the Max family, whose certification and market debut are running years behind schedule. Boeing is on track to secure regulatory approval for the aircraft later this year, Chief Financial Officer Jay Malave said in November.
The order tops Alaska’s purchase of 52 Boeing 737 Max aircraft in 2022. The deal also reflects a broader shift away from its historical model centered on domestic flying in the western US, with 737s serving as the backbone of the operation and limited international reach beyond Hawaii and Latin America.
Since acquiring Hawaiian, Alaska has gained access to widebody aircraft including Boeing 787s and Airbus SE A330s, accelerating its move into long-haul flying.
The airline has previously shown a willingness to simplify its fleet, having phased out Airbus aircraft inherited through its acquisition of Virgin America.
Alaska’s latest moves also intensify competition with Delta Air Lines Inc., which has expanded its own international presence in Seattle as carriers vie for premium overseas travelers.
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