Alaska Airlines Places Record Boeing Order, Biggest in Carrier’s History

Alaska Airlines and Boeing have announced the largest aircraft order in the U.S. carrier’s history, signalling a major fleet modernisation and long-term network growth strategy.

The Seattle-based airline confirmed a firm order for 105 Boeing 737-10 single-aisle aircraft and five Boeing 787 widebody jets. The deal includes rights for additional 35 737-10s, extending the delivery stream through 2035, and represents Alaska’s most significant capital expenditure on future aircraft to date.

The 737-10, the largest variant in the 737 MAX family, is positioned to serve high-density domestic routes with improved fuel efficiency and lower unit costs compared with older generation aircraft. The narrowbody jets will replace aging single-aisle assets and support capacity growth across Alaska’s domestic network.

Alongside the narrowbody order, the five Boeing 787 Dreamliners mark Alaska’s continued pivot into long-haul operations. The 787s bring advanced aerodynamics, composite airframes and extended range capabilities that align with the carrier’s aspirations to expand international services from its Seattle hub to markets in Europe and Asia.

Alaska’s strategic plan, branded as Alaska Accelerate, emphasises fleet renewals and network expansion. Management views the record aircraft order as foundational to this strategy, bolstering capacity while maintaining fleet commonality. The carrier currently operates a mix of Next-Generation 737s and 737 MAX aircraft, with a growing portfolio of 737-10s anticipated to deliver through the next decade.

Boeing executives highlighted the deep-rooted partnership with Alaska Airlines, dating back 60 years, and underscored the order as a reflection of aircraft performance and operational economics that support the airline’s growth ambitions. The 737-10 and 787 platforms are core to Boeing’s commercial portfolio, offering airlines fuel-burn advantages and enhanced passenger comfort.

For Alaska, the expanded fleet will be leveraged to optimise domestic frequencies and introduce or strengthen international services. The carrier’s use of the 787 family will position it to compete more effectively on long-haul leisure and business corridors, while narrowbody expansion underpins resilient domestic connectivity in key U.S. markets.

From an industry perspective, the order adds momentum to Boeing’s manufacturing pipeline following a period of production challenges and regulatory scrutiny. It also reflects broader demand dynamics among U.S. carriers that are balancing fleet modernisation with cost efficiency and network resilience.

The agreement reinforces Alaska’s competitive posture amid a challenging global aviation environment, where airlines are calibrating capacity plans with fluctuating travel demand and cost-pressured operating environments. The long delivery horizon through 2035 allows for phased integration of the new aircraft and longer-term scheduling certainty for both Alaska and Boeing.

As deliveries begin in the coming years, airline planners and network strategists will closely monitor capacity deployment and route optimisation tied to this historic fleet order, which stands as a pivotal inflection point in Alaska Airlines’ growth roadmap.