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.
Alaska operates a fleet of all 737s. It has 120 of them in operation and 25 on order.
It's a new version of the classic plane with a redesigned engine aimed at improving fuel efficiency.
Boeing Co., which is based in Chicago, currently has orders for 858 of the 737 Max.