Alaska Airlines buys over 100 Boeing 737-10 jets in carrier’s biggest order
Alaska Airlines orders more than 100 Boeing’s The carrier’s fleet chief said the acquisition will allow the company to lock in order slots sought to expand in the middle of the next decade.
The order, announced Wednesday and Alaska’s largest ever, includes 105 Boeing 737 Max 10 jets that have not yet been certified. Alaska is also purchasing five 787-10 Dreamliners, exercising previous purchase options for those long-haul jets, as it plans a nonstop international expansion to Italy, South Korea and other destinations.
Shane Jones, who oversees Alaska Airlines’ fleet, revenue products and real estate, told CNBC that the airline expects FAA certification for the Max 10 this year, with deliveries to begin in 2027.
Alaska, which acquired Hawaiian Airlines in 2024, said it has 413 aircraft in its fleet and plans to increase this number to 475 in 2030 and 550 in 2035 with this and previous orders.
The new order includes 35 more 737 Max 10 options. Of the planes in Wednesday’s order, 53 are new and 52 are options the airline has implemented.
Boeing has more than 6,000 planes on preorder, but Alaska’s acquisition plans, a 737 factory 10 miles from the carrier’s headquarters, are a vote of confidence in the planemaker, which delivered a 737 Max 9 to Alaska two years ago without key bolts installed in the door plug. This panel exploded from the plane as it exited Portland, Oregon, on January 5, 2024, stunning passengers but causing no serious physical injury.
The crash caused the 737 Max 9 to briefly shut down and return to production as Boeing navigates another safety crisis in what was expected to be a turnaround year after two deadly Max crashes in 2018 and 2019.
A Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner passenger plane carries Alaska Airlines’ new aircraft livery during a media event at the Boeing Delivery Center in Seattle, Washington, U.S., on Wednesday, January 7, 2026.
M. Scott Brauer | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Under the direction of Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, who replaced insider Dave Calhoun months after the crash, the manufacturer has improved production speed and quality, airline executives said. It plans to increase production this year. The FAA must approve Boeing’s Max production increases, a requirement following the doorjamb accident.
Jones, from Alaska, told CNBC that Wednesday’s order is a sign of “our confidence in Max 10 certification” as well as “our confidence in Boeing and their turnaround and their ability to produce quality aircraft on time.”
The 737 Max 10 has a shorter range than some other models but can fit more passengers than smaller models; This could improve unit costs on high-demand flights and allow them to fly more customers in and out of congested airports where adding flights is difficult.
Max 10 is years behind schedule and still awaiting FAA approval. Jones said he expects certification this year, with first deliveries of the variant expected in the first half of 2027.
About half of new aircraft orders are for renewals, while the rest are for growth, Jones said. He declined to disclose how much the airline paid for the plane. Manufacturers often share list prices, although large customers often receive discounts for large orders.
