BA Boeing Co

By Colin Kellaher

Alaska Air Group's Inc.'s Alaska Airlines unit on Wednesday unveiled a deal to add up to 157 Boeing Co. aircraft to its fleet by the end of the decade, as the carrier pivots to an all-Boeing fleet in an effort to boost efficiency amid soaring fuel costs.

The Seattle-based airline said it is exercising options to buy 52 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft for delivery between 2024 and 2027, and it secured rights for 105 more planes through 2030.

Alaska Airlines, which operates a fleet of 35 737-9 aircraft, said it expects delivery of another 43 MAX aircraft by the end 2023, positioning the airline to remove Airbus aircraft from its fleet by the end of next year.

The carrier said the performance of its 737-9 planes has exceeded expectations on economics and fuel efficiency. Alaska Air said its new order includes 737-8, 737-9 and 737-10 planes, enabling it to match aircraft size and capability with market characteristics and to shift between models as needed.

Boeing said the new 52-aircraft agreement, brings Alaska Airlines' unfilled order book for 737 MAX aircraft to more than 100 jets.

Write to Colin Kellaher at colin.kellaher@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

October 26, 2022 08:58 ET (12:58 GMT)

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