Alaska Airlines has placed its future in the Boeing 737 MAX – and on Wednesday, placed a large order for more jets.
In fact, the Seattle-based carrier said the order for 52 Boeing 737 MAX 8, 9, and 10 planes, is the largest Boeing order in the company’s history. The company currently operates 35 737 MAX planes and expects to deliver 43 more between now and the end of 2023. The deal includes the right to purchase 105 additional planes in addition to the company’s 52 orders.
With the new order, Alaska could have 250 737 MAXs in its fleet by 2030, though the airline notes that it has some flexibility with the deal to “fit in with economic conditions.” our delivery while saving our position in the production line.”
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“This investment secures aircraft to optimize our growth over the next decade, which we know will be a formidable competitive advantage,” said Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci. in a statement. make this commitment to our future and to the wonderful partnership we share with our home aircraft manufacturer at Boeing. “
It’s not disclosed how many of each specific MAX variant Alaska has ordered, and the company notes that it has the flexibility to change that distribution in the future to adapt to market conditions. . It should be noted that the deal includes the 737 MAX 10, a variant for which Alaska already has an order, and one that faces an important certification deadline at the end of the year that Boeing is certain to miss.
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The problem is the lack of a crew warning system on the 737 MAX, and federal law that requires aircraft certified after the end of the year to include one. With Boeing likely to miss the deadline, the company may need Congress to pass legislation that waives the deadline for the 737 MAX. Minicucci last week given in support of the exemption.
“I think -10 will be certified,” he told CNBC.
As Boeing builds up its 737 MAX 10 order book, especially with orders from US carriers – Delta Air Lines this summer also ordered the largest MAX variant, and United Airlines has 250 orders. – the company will likely put political pressure on Congress to get an exemption.
Than: Boeing’s blockbuster: Delta signs a contract to buy 100 737 MAX aircraft 10
Alaska has long been a 737 operator and has operated all four generations of venerable Boeing aircraft. The airline also currently operates a declining fleet of Airbus aircraft that it has acquired through the 2016 merger with Virgin America but plans to retire the last A320s in January and the A321neos by the end of next year. Alaska’s 737s have “prouded to all those Boeings” painted on the front fuselage – a moniker that will once again come true.
