Alaska Airlines has placed the largest aircraft order in its history, committing to more than 100 new Boeing narrowbodies and expanding its widebody fleet as it continues a growth strategy that has been years in the making. While the numbers are eye-catching, this move represents a deliberate extension of a path Alaska has already chosen.

Alaska Airlines Places Largest Aircraft Order In Its History, Extending Growth Through 2035

Alaska Airlines announced it will order 105 Boeing 737-10 aircraft and five additional Boeing 787-10s, exercising all remaining 787 options it held with Boeing. The airline also secured purchase rights for an additional 35 737-10s, giving it flexibility well into the next decade. Deliveries from this order will extend through 2035, locking in production slots at a time when aircraft availability remains constrained.

The order is split between growth aircraft and replacements for older Boeing 737s, keeping Alaska’s fleet among the youngest and most fuel-efficient in the industry. Alaska already operates 737-8 and 737-9 aircraft (Alaska generally chooses not to call these aircraft “MAX 8” or “MAX 9” for good reason), and while this order is for the larger 737-10, the airline emphasized it retains flexibility to adjust aircraft variants if needed…the 737-10 is not yet certified and may never even take off.

CEO Ben Minicucci, framing the move as part of the airline’s long-term Alaska Accelerate strategy:

“This fleet investment builds on the strong foundation Alaska has created to support steady, scalable and sustained growth… These planes will fuel our expansion to more destinations across the globe and ensure our guests travel aboard the newest, most fuel-efficient and state-of-the-art aircraft.”

Not A Turning Point, But A Vote Of Confidence

It would be tempting to frame this as a transformative moment for Alaska Airlines, but that would miss the point. The real turning points came earlier, when Alaska committed to widebody flying, designated Seattle as a longhaul gateway, and laid out an explicit plan to grow internationally. This order does not redefine Alaska’s strategy; it confirms it.

In that sense, I see this purchase as a vote confidence in the plan Alaska has previously announced. And it seems to me that Alaska is doing what disciplined airlines do when a plan is working: securing aircraft availability, keeping fleet complexity low, and pacing growth over many years instead of growing too much too quickly…or too little or too late.

Widebodies Support An Existing International Plan

The five additional 787-10s bring Alaska’s firm widebody order book to 17 aircraft, with five already operating. These aircraft are central to Alaska’s ambition to serve at least 12 long-haul international destinations from Seattle by 2030, an objective the airline has already been openly pursuing.

> Read More: Alaska Airlines Reveals 787 Soft Product Details

Flights from Seattle to London Heathrow, Rome, Reykjavik, Tokyo Narita, and Seoul Incheon are already on sale or in service, underscoring that Alaska’s international expansion is no longer theoretical. The additional 787s will support the aforementioned routes and also make possible additional routes.

Alaska Air Group currently operates 413 aircraft across its brands. That number is expected to exceed 475 aircraft by 2030 and 550 by 2035, growth that is significant but not reckless. Importantly, Alaska continues to avoid unnecessary subfleets, maintaining operational simplicity even as it scales (it even got rid of its brand new Airbus jets after the merger with Virgin America).

> Read More: Alaska Airlines Will Fly Its 787 Dreamliner To London Heathrow

A New Livery, Not A New Identity

Alongside the order, Alaska will unveil a new global livery on its first 787-9 painted in Alaska colors later this morning. Inspired by the Aurora Borealis, the design emphasizes the airline’s international aspirations, but even here, the message is evolution rather than something totally new and different. I’m in Seattle for the unveiling and will provide more coverage later today on what I observe. Alaska says it “took artists nearly 1000 hours across 13 days to paint the aircraft exterior from nose to tail.”

The Alaska Airlines brand will continue to feature “Chester,” the Alaska Native on the tails of narrowbody aircraft flying across North America, while Hawaiian Airlines will retain its own livery across Airbus and Boeing aircraft serving the islands, with Pualani on its tail.

CONCLUSION

Alaska Airlines’ record-breaking aircraft order is not a dramatic turning point, but it is certainly a mark of progress. This is a confident airline reinforcing a strategy it already chose years ago, securing aircraft availability, and committing to steady, disciplined growth. Rather than changing course, Alaska is making sure it has the aircraft to stay on it. Even so, it’s a big day for the Seattle-based carrier: today’s news is indeed the largest order in aircraft history is a milestone for Alaska Airlines.

What do you think about Alaska Airlines’ fleet expansion?

image: Alaska Airlines

Get Daily Updates

Join our mailing list for a daily summary of posts! We never sell your info.

SUBSCRIBE!

You have Successfully Subscribed!