Alaska Airlines to lease 13 new Boeing 737 MAX jets

SEATTLE — Alaska Airlines says it will sell 10 Airbus A320s and lease 13 new Boeing 737-9 MAX aircraft to modernize its fleet.

The sale and leases are part of an agreement with Air Lease Corporation.

“We found an opportunity to sell 10 planes that are not in our long-term plans and replace them with 13 of the most efficient narrow-body aircraft available,” said Brad Tilden, Alaska Air Group chairman and CEO.

The new MAX jets will be delivered from the fourth quarter of 2021 through 2022.

According to the airline, the new MAX jets are 20 percent more fuel efficient and generate 20 percent less carbon emissions per seat than the Airbus A320s they will replace.

The 737-9 MAX can also fly 600 miles farther than Alaska’s current A320, which could lead to more nonstop routes and new destinations, Alaska said.

The 13 leased Boeing planes are in addition to the 32 MAX Alaska currently has on order with Boeing. Five of those are expected to be in the air by summer of next year.

Alaska said it will begin flying the 737-9 MAX in March.

Cox Media Group