Alaska Airlines fleet

Last updated

Alaska Airlines commemorated its relationship with Boeing in 2016, with a livery on a Boeing 737-900ER aircraft celebrating the plane maker's 100th anniversary. Boeing 737-990ER(w) 'N248AK' Alaska Airlines (39871804034).jpg
Alaska Airlines commemorated its relationship with Boeing in 2016, with a livery on a Boeing 737-900ER aircraft celebrating the plane maker's 100th anniversary.

The Alaska Airlines fleet are all Boeing 737 series aircraft, operated directly by Alaska Airlines. A regional fleet of Alaska branded Embraer 175 jets are operated by the Alaska Air Group-owned regional airline Horizon Air and third-party contractor SkyWest Airlines.

Contents

The cargo fleet consists of three Boeing 737-700 freighter jets and one Boeing 737-800 freighter jet that were formerly passenger aircraft. An additional passenger 737-800 is under conversion to cargo.

Alaska Airlines advertises its relationship with Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Nearly all aircraft in the mainline fleet have the Boeing logo and "Proudly All Boeing" under the cockpit windows. [1] Alaska operates an aircraft in a special livery celebrating the plane maker's 100th anniversary. [2]

Current fleet

Both Horizon Air and SkyWest Airlines operate Embraer 175 aircraft for Alaska. AlaskaAirlines(Skywest)E175N183SY SANFebruary2019.jpg
Both Horizon Air and SkyWest Airlines operate Embraer 175 aircraft for Alaska.
Alaska Air Cargo operates the Boeing 737-700F, one of two variants in its fleet. N627AS (44573521370).jpg
Alaska Air Cargo operates the Boeing 737-700F, one of two variants in its fleet.

As of 16 May 2024, the combined Alaska Airlines-branded fleet consists of the following jet aircraft: [3]

Alaska Airlines fleet
AircraftIn fleetOrdersPassengersNotes
FY+YTotal
Mainline passenger fleet
Boeing 737-700 11—121894124
Boeing 737-800 56—1230117159
3—1230120162
Boeing 737-900 12—1624138178
Boeing 737-900ER 79—1624138178
Boeing 737 MAX 8 4161230117159
Boeing 737 MAX 9 69111624138178
Boeing 737 MAX 10 —102TBA189Deliveries are expected to begin in mid-2025 at the earliest. [4] [5]
Cargo fleet
Boeing 737-700F 3—Cargo
Boeing 737-800F 11Cargo
Regional passenger fleet
Embraer 175 44612164876Operated by Horizon Air.
421Operated by SkyWest Airlines.
Total324133

Fleet history

Alaska Airlines received its first Boeing 727-100 jet in 1966. Boeing 727-100 Alaska Airlines Gilliand.jpg
Alaska Airlines received its first Boeing 727-100 jet in 1966.

Since the 1960s, Alaska has consistently operated Boeing jet aircraft in its fleet. The first jetliner type operated by the airline was the Convair 880. Alaska also operated the Convair 990 jetliner. Besides the current Boeing 737 models flown by Alaska, the airline previously operated Boeing 707, Boeing 720 and Boeing 720B four-engine jets as well as the three-engine Boeing 727-100 and 727-200, and the twin-engine 737-200, 737-400 and Airbus A319 and A320. [6] The last 727 was retired in May 1994. [7]

In the 1980s, Alaska began acquiring McDonnell Douglas MD-80s. [8] Alaska acquired additional MD-80s via the acquisition of Jet America Airlines in 1987. [9] Alaska was the launch customer for the MD-83 and took delivery of the first airplanes in 1985. [8] Alaska continued to take delivery of new MD-83s in the 1990s, both to meet the demands of a growing route system and to retire its aging and fuel-inefficient 727 fleet. In 2005, due to the greater efficiency of the Boeing 737 Next Generation and rising costs for maintenance, fuel and crew training, Alaska Airlines decided to phase out the remaining 26 MD-80s and trained the pilots to fly the newer 737-800s that were being ordered to replace them. The last MD-80 flights took place in August 2008. [8]

Between 1981 and 2017, Boeing 737 Combi aircraft played a large role in the airline's cargo deployment on routes to the state of Alaska. Alaska Airlines 737 Combi making a steep climb out of ANC (5972480340).jpg
Between 1981 and 2017, Boeing 737 Combi aircraft played a large role in the airline's cargo deployment on routes to the state of Alaska.

Alaska used eight Boeing 737–200 Combi/QCs to suit the unique needs of flying in the state of Alaska. These combi aircraft operated with a mixed load of passengers and freight on the main deck. They were valued for their ability to be rapidly reconfigured, hence the moniker QC or "Quick Change", to match the cargo and passenger loads for any given flight. In the all-freight configuration, the 737-200 Combis carried up to six cargo containers, known as "igloos." The palletized floor allowed for passenger seating to range from 26 to 72 seats. The 737-200s were gravel-kitted, which allowed them to be used at airports such as Red Dog, which formerly featured a gravel runway. [10]

Between 2006 and 2007, Alaska replaced the 737-200s with six reconfigured 737-400s. Five featured a mixed cargo/passenger Combi arrangement. One was a freighter carrying only cargo. Unlike the 737-200 Combi, the 737-400 Combis featured a fixed seating capacity of 72 seats. [11] The last 737-200 Combi, short for combination, was retired in 2007 and is now displayed at the Alaska Aviation Museum. [12] [13] The 737-400 Combi aircraft were retired in October 2017. [14] Alaska Airlines retired their passenger 737-400s in March 2018. At the time, it was the last major airline operating the 737 Classic.

The current cargo fleet consists of three Boeing 737-700 freighter jets, that were formerly passenger aircraft and converted to cargo aircraft in 2016 and 2017 by Israel Aerospace Industries. [15] By the end of 2023, Alaska Air Cargo plans to add an additional three 737-800 freighters to be converted by Boeing, from Alaska's existing fleet.[ citation needed ] Because the -800 can carry 40% more cargo than the -700, the aircraft will nearly double Alaska Air Cargo's available capacity.[ citation needed ]

Alaska Airlines, formerly Virgin America, Airbus A321neo N929VA on final approach to New York John F. Kennedy International Airport. Alaska Airlines Airbus A321-253N N929VA approaching JFK Airport.jpg
Alaska Airlines, formerly Virgin America, Airbus A321neo N929VA on final approach to New York John F. Kennedy International Airport.

After Alaska merged with Virgin America on January 11, 2018, it took possession of its fleet of Airbus aircraft. Over time, the airline slowly removed the Airbus jets from its fleet. All ten Airbus A319 jets were taken out of service in mid-2020 due to insufficient demand and low-profit margins due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [16] The fleet of 53 A320 jets was slowly removed from service as leases expired and new 737s were purchased, with the final jet going out of service in January 2023. [17] [18] The airline's ten remaining Airbus A321neo jets are scheduled to be removed from service by the end of 2023, as part of their fleet simplification plan to revert to an all-Boeing fleet. [19]

In January 2021, Alaska Airlines took delivery of its first 737 MAX 9, registered N913AK. [20]

In January 2023, Alaska Horizon operated their last Dash 8-Q400 flight.[ citation needed ] [21] [22]

In September 2023, Alaska Airlines operated their last Airbus A321neo flight under AS1126. This was the last ever Airbus flight for Alaska Airlines.[ citation needed ]

Former fleet

Alaska Airlines formerly operated the following aircraft: [23]

Aircraft:TotalIntroducedRetiredNotes
Airbus A319-100 1020182020Taken from merged Virgin America.
Airbus A320-200 5320182023
Airbus A321neo 1020182023
Boeing 707 [24] 419701973Three leased at different times from Pan Am. [25] [26] [27]
Boeing 720 [28] 419721972
Boeing 720B Leased from Continental Airlines.
Boeing 727-100 3019661990
11971Crashed as as flight AS1866
11976Crashed as as flight AS160
Boeing 727-200 2919701994
Boeing 737-200C 919812007
Boeing 737-400 4019922018One converted into a freighter, and five into combis.
Bombardier CRJ-700 920112018Operated by SkyWest Airlines.
Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 5420112023Operated by Horizon Air.
Convair 880 119611966First jetliner operated by the airline.[ citation needed ]
Convair 990 119671969
McDonnell Douglas MD-82 1419852007
McDonnell Douglas MD-83 3419852008
12000Crashed as as flight AS261

Livery

The airline's livery and logo have remained remarkably similar for the last 50 years, with the word Alaska on the front sides of the fuselage, with an image of a native Alaskan Eskimo on the vertical stabilizer as a logo. [29]

The image of the Eskimo first appeared in 1972 alongside three other images that each represented a part of Alaska's history: a totem pole, a gold miner, and Russian spires. The Eskimo is depicted wearing a traditional qulittaq (parka with ruff). In 1976, the airline adopted the Eskimo tail fleet-wide, with the design slightly changed to have the face smiling. [30]

Between the 1970s and the mid-2010s, Alaska's aircraft were painted all white, except for the image on the tail, with dark blue and teal stripes running the length of the sides of the fuselage. Between 1976 and 1990, the stripes were placed above and below the windows, with a simple, small "Alaska" text at the front of the plane. [31] In 1990, the stripes were moved to the "belt line" of the plane, and the word "Alaska" was depicted as a wordmark with the letters designed to look like icicles. [30] Starting in February 2015, Alaska rolled out an updated or "refreshed" livery. The changes included a simplified wordmark, stripes in a lighter shade of blue and darker green, and a simplified Eskimo design on the tail, with no teal outline. [32]

In January 2016, the livery and logo received a major redesign. The Alaska wordmark was further streamlined and the design of the Eskimo logo was simplified and the ruffs on the parka were made more colorful. On the fuselage of planes, the stripes were eliminated and replaced by a "jelly bean" design with waves of dark blue, navy blue, teal, and green running up the side of the plane to the vertical stabilizer. [33]

Related Research Articles

China Airlines is the state-owned flag carrier of the Republic of China (Taiwan). It is one of Taiwan's two major airlines along with EVA Air. It is headquartered in Taoyuan International Airport and operates over 1,400 flights weekly – including 91 pure cargo flights – to 102 cities across Asia, Europe, North America, and Oceania. Carrying nearly 20 million passengers and 5700 tons of cargo in 2017, the carrier was the 33rd largest airline in the world in terms of revenue passenger kilometers (RPK) and 10th largest in terms of freight revenue ton kilometers (FRTK).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boeing 737</span> Single-aisle airliner family by Boeing

The Boeing 737 is an American narrow-body airliner produced by Boeing at its Renton factory in Washington. Developed to supplement the Boeing 727 on short and thin routes, the twinjet retained the 707 fuselage width and six abreast seating but with two underwing Pratt & Whitney JT8D low-bypass turbofan engines. Envisioned in 1964, the initial 737-100 made its first flight in April 1967 and entered service in February 1968 with Lufthansa. The lengthened 737-200 entered service in April 1968, and evolved through four generations, offering several variants for 85 to 215 passengers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boeing 757</span> Airliner family by Boeing

The Boeing 757 is an American narrow-body airliner designed and built by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The then-named 7N7, a twinjet successor for the trijet 727, received its first orders in August 1978. The prototype completed its maiden flight on February 19, 1982, and it was FAA certified on December 21, 1982. Eastern Air Lines placed the initial 757-200 variant in commercial service on January 1, 1983. A package freighter (PF) variant entered service in September 1987 and a combi model in September 1988. The stretched 757-300 was launched in September 1996 and began service in March 1999. After 1,050 had been built for 54 customers, production ended in October 2004, while Boeing offered the largest 737 NG variants as a successor to the -200.

Icelandair is the flag carrier of Iceland, with its corporate head office on the property of Reykjavík Airport in the capital city Reykjavík. It is part of the Icelandair Group and operates to destinations on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean from its main hub at Keflavík International Airport. The geographical position of Iceland is convenient for one-stop transatlantic flights via the Atlantic Bridge route, which is one pillar of the airline's business strategy, along with traffic to, from, and within the country.

All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd. is a Japanese airline headquartered in Minato, Tokyo. ANA operates services to both domestic and international destinations and is Japan's largest airline, ahead of its main rival flag carrier Japan Airlines. As of April 2023, the airline has approximately 12,800 employees. The airline joined as a Star Alliance member in October 1999.

Alaska Airlines is a major American airline headquartered in SeaTac, Washington, within the Seattle metropolitan area. It is the fifth-largest airline in North America when measured by scheduled passengers carried. Alaska, together with its regional partners Horizon Air and SkyWest Airlines operates a route network primarily focused on connecting cities along the West Coast of the United States to over 100 destinations in the contiguous United States, Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Mexico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air North</span> Airline in Yukon, Canada

Air North Charter and Training Ltd., operating as Air North, Yukon's Airline, is a Canadian airline based in Whitehorse, Yukon. It operates scheduled passenger and cargo flights throughout Yukon, as well as between Yukon and the Northwest Territories, British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario. The airline also operates charter flights throughout Canada and Alaska. The airline also provides ground handling services and fuel services to other airlines throughout Yukon, and it also provides ground handling services at Vancouver International Airport and Edmonton International Airport. Its main base is Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Air</span> Defunct Canadian airline

Bradley Air Services Limited, operating as First Air, was an airline headquartered in Kanata, a suburb of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It operated services to 34 communities in Nunavut, Nunavik, and the Northwest Territories. First Air has assisted in various humanitarian missions such as the 2010 Haiti earthquake, airlifting relief supplies and equipment. Its main base, which included a large hangar, cargo and maintenance facility, was located at Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport, with hubs at Iqaluit Airport, and Yellowknife Airport. On November 1, 2019, the airline consolidated operations with Canadian North.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air Namibia</span> Former flag carrier of Namibia

Air Namibia (Pty) Limited, which traded as Air Namibia, was the national airline of Namibia, headquartered in the country's capital, Windhoek. It operated scheduled domestic, regional, and international passenger and cargo services, having its international hub in Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport and a domestic hub at the smaller Windhoek Eros Airport. As of December 2013, the carrier was wholly owned by the Namibian government. Air Namibia was a member of both the International Air Transport Association and the African Airlines Association.

Pacific Western Airlines Ltd (PWA) was an airline that operated scheduled flights throughout western Canada and charter services around the world from the 1950s through the 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nolinor Aviation</span> Charter airline of Montreal, Canada

Les Investissements Nolinor Inc., trading as Nolinor Aviation, is a charter airline based in Mirabel, a suburb of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It operates passenger charter and cargo services within Canada and to the United States Its main base is Montréal–Mirabel International Airport. It has 200 employees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Combi aircraft</span> Aircraft that can carry passengers and/or cargo

Combi aircraft in commercial aviation are aircraft that can be used to carry either passengers as an airliner, or cargo as a freighter, and may have a partition in the aircraft cabin to allow both uses at the same time in a mixed passenger/freight combination. The name combi comes from the word combination. The concept originated in railroading with the combine car, a passenger car that contains a separate compartment for mail or baggage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juneau International Airport</span> International airport serving Juneau, Alaska, United States

Juneau International Airport is a city-owned, public-use airport and seaplane base located seven nautical miles northwest of the central business district of Juneau, a city and borough in the U.S. state of Alaska which has no direct road access to the outside world. The airport is a regional hub for all air travel, from bush carriers to major U.S. air carriers such as Alaska Airlines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ketchikan International Airport</span> Airport

Ketchikan International Airport is a state-owned, public-use airport located one nautical mile (2 km) west of the central business district of Ketchikan, a city in Ketchikan Gateway Borough in Alaska, that has no direct road access to the outside world or to the airport. The airport is located on Gravina Island, just west of Ketchikan on the other side of the Tongass Narrows. Passengers must take a seven-minute ferry ride across the water to get to the airport from the town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sitka Rocky Gutierrez Airport</span> Airport in Japonski Island

Sitka Rocky Gutierrez Airport is a state-owned, public-use airport located west of the central business district of Sitka, a city and borough in the U.S. state of Alaska.

UPS Airlines is a major American cargo airline based in Louisville, Kentucky. One of the largest cargo airlines worldwide, UPS Airlines flies to 815 destinations worldwide. It has been a wholly owned subsidiary of United Parcel Service since its launch in 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Airlines fleet</span> Extensive overview of American Airlines airplanes current and historic

As of June 2024, the American Airlines fleet consists of 968 mainline aircraft, making it the second-largest commercial airline fleet in the world. American Airlines operates aircraft manufactured by Boeing and Airbus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boeing 737 Classic</span> Single-aisle airliner family by Boeing

The Boeing 737 Classic is a series of narrow-body airliners produced by Boeing Commercial Airplanes, the second generation of the Boeing 737 series of aircraft. Development began in 1979 and the first variant, the 737-300, first flew in February 1984 and entered service that December. The stretched 737-400 first flew in February 1988 and entered service later that year. The shortest variant, the 737-500, first flew in June 1989 and entered service in 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southwest Airlines fleet</span> Airliner fleet

As of May 2024, the Southwest Airlines fleet consists of 817 aircraft, making it the fourth-largest commercial airline fleet in the world. All of the aircraft Southwest Airlines operates are from the Boeing 737 family of narrow-body airliners.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air Canada fleet</span> Aircraft composition of Canadian flag carrier

As of December 2023, the Air Canada fleet consists of 187 mainline passenger aircraft, a mix of Airbus and Boeing narrow-body and wide-body jets.

References

  1. ↑ Ostrower, Jon (2023-09-30). "Alaska Airlines, finally all-Boeing, ventures beyond the recovery". The Air Current. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  2. ↑ "Celebration of Boeing® Livery". Alaska Airlines . Retrieved June 24, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Alaska Airlines" . Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  4. ↑ "Alaska Airlines broadens B737 MAX portfolio". Ch-Aviation. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Alaska Airlines Orders 52 Boeing 737 MAX Jets to Further Modernize Fleet". boeing.com. October 26, 2022. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  6. ↑ http://www.airliners.net, photos of Alaska Airlines Boeing 707, 720, 720B, 727-100, 727–200, 737–200 and 737-400 aircraft
  7. ↑ "Alaska Airlines Accelerates Aircraft Retirement – Charges to be Taken Against 1993 Results". The Free Library. December 16, 1993. Archived from the original on April 13, 2014. Retrieved May 1, 2012.
  8. 1 2 3 "Alaska Airlines Completes Transition to All-Boeing Fleet". Alaska Airlines. August 28, 2008. Archived from the original on June 27, 2012. Retrieved August 18, 2012.
  9. ↑ Serling, Robert J. (2008). Character and Characters: The Spirit of Alaska Airlines. Seattle: Epicenter Press. p. 237. ISBN   978-1-933245-11-9.
  10. ↑ "The Airplane That Never Sleeps". Boeing. July 15, 2002. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved August 18, 2012.
  11. ↑ "Alaska Airlines Introduces Two 737-400 "Combi" Aircraft to Fleet". Alaska Air Group. February 1, 2007. Archived from the original on May 30, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2011.
  12. ↑ Flightline Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum. Archived from the original on February 3, 2010. Retrieved August 18, 2012.
  13. ↑ "Alaska Airlines Featured in Newest Exhibit at Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum". Alaska Airlines. June 12, 2007. Archived from the original on May 14, 2008. Retrieved September 11, 2012.
  14. ↑ "The end of an era: Alaska retires unique cargo-passenger 'combi' planes". Alaska Airlines Blog. October 16, 2017. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  15. ↑ "Alaska Air Cargo introduces world's first converted 737-700 freighter" (Press release). Anchorage, Alaska: Alaska Airlines. September 26, 2017. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
  16. ↑ Gates, Dominic (May 5, 2020). "Cash crunch from coronavirus crisis will force Alaska Air to shrink". The Seattle Times. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  17. ↑ Beresnevicius, Rytis (January 10, 2023). "Alaska Airlines retires its final Airbus A320". AeroTime. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Alaska Replaces Most of Its Airbus Fleet with the MAX". Cranky Flier. December 23, 2020. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  19. ↑ "Alaska Airlines accelerates A321neo phase-out to late 3Q23". ch-aviation. April 25, 2023. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Alaska takes delivery of first Boeing 737 Max". flightglobal.com. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  21. ↑ Flightradar24. "Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map". Flightradar24. Retrieved 2023-01-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  22. ↑ @flySEA (January 27, 2023). "Farewell friend. 😘 Join us in saying goodbye to @AlaskaAir's final Q400 flights today. 👋🏽 What's your favorite #Q400 memory? ✈️ #Q400Farewell" (Tweet). Retrieved 24 June 2023– via Twitter.
  23. ↑ "Alaska Airlines Fleet Details and History". Planespotters.net. February 7, 2023. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  24. ↑ "Aviation Photo #0170167: Boeing 707-321 - Alaska Airlines".
  25. ↑ "Lost in Time: When Alaska Airlines Flew Boeing 707s : AirlineReporter".
  26. ↑ "Alaska Airlines" by Cliff & Nancy Hollenbeck, pages 134 & 138, first edition 2012, published by Hollenbeck Productions
  27. ↑ "Character & Characters: The Spirit of Alaska Airlines" by Robert J. Serling, page 101, first edition 2008, published by Documentary Media LLC
  28. ↑ "Aviation Photo #0067195: Boeing 720-022 - Alaska Airlines".
  29. ↑ "Alaska Air Group, Inc. – Company History". Funding Universe. Retrieved April 16, 2011.
  30. 1 2 Knigge, Halley (January 25, 2016). "The story of the Eskimo: Who is on the tail of Alaska Airlines' planes?". Alaska Airlines Blog. Alaska Airlines. Archived from the original on February 11, 2019. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  31. ↑ "The subtle (yet classy) evolution of the Alaska Airlines livery". Norebbo. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  32. ↑ Ewing, Ryan (February 20, 2015). "Photos: Alaska Shows Off a Refreshed Look". AirlineGeeks.com. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  33. ↑ "Alaska Airlines unveils major brand updates". Alaska Airlines Blog. Alaska Airlines. January 25, 2016. Retrieved December 27, 2017.

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Aircraft of Alaska Airlines at Wikimedia Commons

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.