Alaska Airlines swaps Airbus A320s for 13 new Boeing 737 MAX jets
This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page.
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
Featured image by FG/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images.
Sign-up Successful!
Welcome to The Points Guy!
Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases within the first three months of card membership. Plus, earn a $200 statement credit after your first Delta purchase within the first three months. Offer ends 7/28/21.
With Status Boost™, earn 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, up to two times per year getting you closer to Medallion Status. Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels, 2X Miles at restaurants and at U.S. supermarkets and earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases. Terms Apply.
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles after spending $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months and a $200 statement credit after you make a Delta purchase with your new Card within your first 3 months. Offer expires 7/28/2021.
- Limited Time Offer: Plus, get a 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable 15.74%-24.74%. Offer expires 7/28/2021.
- Accelerate your path to Medallion Status, with Status Boost®. Plus, in 2021 you can earn even more bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) to help you reach Medallion Status.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. *Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $75 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®.
- Enjoy an exclusive rate of $39 per person per visit to enter the Delta Sky Club® for you and up to two guests when traveling on a Delta flight.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.