Alaska Airlines swaps Airbus A320s for 13 new Boeing 737 MAX jets
Alaska Airlines is marching steadily towards returning to a mostly Boeing 737 fleet with a new deal to replace Airbus A320s with 737 MAX jets.
The Seattle-based carrier will lease 13 737 MAX 9s from lessor Air Lease Corporation (ALC) in exchange for 10 A320s, Alaska said Monday. The deal brings its firm commitments for the MAX to 45 aircraft, including orders for 32 planes.
Alaska began weighing either more A321neos or 737 MAXes as a replacement for its 61 Airbus A319 and A320 jets in January. However, the onset of the coronavirus pandemic changed the equation with the carrier accelerating Airbus retirements and quietly moving towards more 737s — the mainstay of its 217-jet mainline fleet.
Want more airline-specific news? Sign up for TPG's free new biweekly Aviation newsletter!
Alaska says it will have 39 A320s left after the ALC deal. However, if the 10 it said it's exchanging on Monday are in addition to those it has already retired — or has slated for retirement — then a back-of-the-notebook analysis shows the airline with just 22 A320s in its fleet by the end of 2022, according to the fleet plan at the end of September.
The airline acquired the A320 fleet as part of its deal for Virgin America that closed in December 2016. Alaska has no plans to remove the 10 A321neos that it gained as part of the merger.
The A320s-for-737 MAXes deal enhances "our fleet and advance our environmental, operational and financial performance," said Alaska CEO Brad Tilden in a statement.
Related: Why Alaska Airlines can't retire its Airbus A320s all at once
Alaska plans to take delivery of its first 737 MAX in January following the re-certification of the beleaguered jet earlier in November. The MAX was grounded for more than 20 months after two fatal crashes took the lives of 346 people.
The airline plans to begin MAX flights with passengers in March, according to its website.
The MAXes from ALC will begin arriving at the end of 2021 and continue through 2022. Alaska will sell the A320s to the lessor when the "transaction closes" and lease them back for a short period.
Reports had indicated that Alaska was in discussions with Boeing over an additional MAX order once the FAA lifted its grounding notice. These may still be pending, however; with cash for new jets limited, leasing presents a lower upfront cost to acquiring new jets.
Related: US authorities lift Boeing 737 MAX grounding, allow jets to resume flights
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees