When Alaska Airlines acquired Hawaiian Airlines in 2024, the vision was clear: Alaska wanted to solidify its position as the fifth-largest U.S. airline and become a truly global airline capable of transporting passengers around the world.
With 2026 just days away, it’s clear that a focus on growth remains a top priority.
On Wednesday, Alaska Airlines announced it had reached an agreement to purchase 110 new planes from Boeing between now and 2035.
It’s the largest aircraft order in the history of the Seattle-based airline, which will continue to rely on the U.S. planemaker, its Pacific Northwest neighbor, for aircraft in the coming years.
Alaska Airlines strikes dramatic new deal with Boeing
The highlight of the deal is Alaska Airlines’ purchase of 105 new Boeing 737 MAX 10 jets, Boeing’s largest 737 MAX model, which is currently awaiting regulatory certification.
Alaska has also formally agreed to purchase five more Boeing 787 Dreamliners, specifically selected to pair with the long-haul version of Boeing’s largest 787-10 aircraft.
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The deal could represent a multibillion-dollar investment for Alaska Airlines Group and will drive “stable, scalable and sustained growth,” the company said in a statement announcing the news Wednesday.
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“These aircraft will fuel our expansion to more destinations around the world and ensure our guests are flying on the newest, most fuel-efficient and state-of-the-art aircraft,” said Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci.
As part of the deal, Alaska also retains the option to purchase an additional 35 MAX 10 jets over the next nine years.
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What to know about Alaska Airlines’ new aircraft
Once added to Alaska’s fleet, the MAX 10 will be the airline’s largest single-aisle aircraft, while the 787-10 Dreamliner will be the airline’s largest twin-aisle aircraft.
Boeing 737 MAX 10
According to Boeing’s website, the MAX 10 has a two-class configuration (first class and economy class) and can accommodate 188 to 204 passengers.
This will give Alaska Airlines more seat capacity on flights where demand is highest on its existing narrow-body jets; its Boeing 737-900s and MAX 9s can seat a combined 178 passengers.
When will the first MAX 10 be launched? That could depend on when Boeing finally gets the plane certified. The MAX 10 launch has been delayed due to anti-icing issues that the aircraft manufacturer has been grappling with for years.
The “big three” traditional US airlines – American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines – also all have outstanding orders for the MAX 10.
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Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner
The aircraft deal, meanwhile, will give Alaska Airlines a total of 17 Dreamliners as the airline exercises all options with Boeing on the wide-body aircraft.
This is based on the airline’s existing and pipeline Dreamliners.
In acquiring Hawaiian, Alaska took over Hawaiian’s new fleet of smaller Boeing 787-9s (complete with sleek new business-class suites) and orders for more Dreamliners.
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Now, as has been rumored for months, Alaska could add the larger 787-10 to its fleet. This will allow the airline to add dozens of seats on international flights departing from its home base at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).
It would also allow Alaska Airlines to deploy a more premium heavy-duty configuration on its flagship routes – a specific feature of the 787-10 touted by Boeing.
“I think with the 787-10, we’re seeing airlines move a lot higher,” Darren Hulst, Boeing’s vice president of commercial marketing, told TPG last summer at the planemaker’s production plant in Renton, Washington. “It’s just more opportunity to deliver a quality product … and that differentiates them in the market.”
Alaska has five 787-9 aircraft flying today. Minicucci has repeatedly stated that it expects to operate at least 12 long-distance routes from Southeast Asia by 2030.
bottom line
Today, Alaska Airlines Group’s Alaska-branded and Hawaii-branded fleets total 413 aircraft. The number of aircraft is expected to increase to 475 by 2030 and to at least 550 by 2035.
The airline said many of the new 737 MAX jets will replace older 737s that will be retired in the coming years.
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