Alaska Airlines on Thursday announced it will buy two additional Boeing Next-Generation 737-800s in a deal valued at approximately $153 million.
The order by Alaska Airlines was made in June but was not announced until Thursday. Previously, Boeing attributed the sale of two Next-Generation 737-800s to an unidentified customer.
“Alaska Airlines continues to execute a successful and strategic vision based on its expansive fleet of efficient and reliable Next-Generation 737s,” said Marlin Dailey, vice president of Sales for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “Alaska celebrated its transition to a single fleet in 2008 and with these additional orders, is truly reaping the benefits represented by its slogan, ‘Proudly all-Boeing.’
“Through its close partnership with Boeing, and working with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, Alaska Airlines is also expanding the use of advanced navigational and flight guidance procedures that leverage the superior performance capabilities of the Next-Generation 737. These procedures reduce flight times and congestion and result in lower fuel consumption and emissions into the environment,” Dailey added.
Alaska Airlines President Brad Tilden said his company’s financial performance has been strong. “Expanding our fleet with these two new 737-800s will not only help us fly more efficiently but also launch new service for our customers, provide positive returns for investors and ultimately, bring some of our furloughed employees back to work,” he said.
Including Thursday’s order, Alaska will take delivery of 13 Next-Generation 737s over the next several years. Alaska Airlines already has 116 737s in its fleet, including 55 737-800s.
The Boeing 737-800 is the best-selling version of the successful Next-Generation 737 family and to date, more than 125 of the company’s customers have placed orders for more than 5,400 Next-Generation 737s. Unfilled orders for the Next-Generation 737 exceed 2,000 airplanes, valued at more than $150 billion at average list prices.