Alaska Airlines inks deal for 50 new Boeing 737s

NEW YORK — Alaska Airlines plans to buy 50 new Boeing 737s in a deal that will increase its fleet by nearly half.     The deal is worth $5 billion.

But Alaska, operated by Seattle's Alaska Air Group Inc., won't pay that much. Major airline customers commonly get discounts.

The order is the largest-ever for Alaska.     The order includes 37 of Boeing's redesigned 737, which it calls the Max.

It's a new version of the classic plane with a redesigned engine aimed at improving fuel efficiency.

Alaska operates a fleet of all 737s. It has 120 of them in operation and 25 on order.

Boeing Co., which is based in Chicago, currently has orders for 858 of the 737 Max.

KIRO