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Alaska Airlines’ Airbus Fleet
Retirement Plans
Alaska
Airlines has this week ordered even more Boeing 737 MAXs, and in the process has
revealed plans to retire most of its Airbus A320-family fleet.
In this
post:
- Alaska increases 737 MAX order
- Alaska will retire most Airbus planes by 2023
- Could Alaska do something cool with remaining A321neos?
Alaska
Airlines has restructured its agreement with Boeing to order a total of 68
Boeing 737 MAX 9s, with an option for 52 additional planes:
A
couple of months ago Alaska Airlines had a total of 32 Boeing 737 MAX 9s on
order
In late
November Alaska Airlines ordered a further 13 Boeing 737 MAX 9s, bringing the
order total to 45; as part of that deal, the airline announced plans to sell 10
A320s
In
other words, with this order Alaska Airlines is committing to a further 23
Boeing 737 MAX 9s beyond what had been previously ordered
The
timeline for Alaska Airlines’ 737 MAX 9 deliveries has also been revealed. The
airline is planning on taking delivery of:
- 13 737 MAXs in 2021
- 30 737 MAXs in 2022
- 13 737 MAXs in 2023
- 12 737 MAXs in 2024
Then
the 52 aircraft options are for delivery between 2023 and 2026.
It’s
not surprising to see Alaska order more 737 MAXs:
The
airline has relatively few planes on order, to replace its existing
737s
Chances
are that the airline got amazing terms with Boeing and lots of flexibility,
given the history of the 737 MAX, and Boeing’s eagerness to secure new
orders
The 737
MAX 9 is the future of Alaska Airlines’ fleet
Alaska
will retire most Airbus planes by 2023
Arguably more interesting than Alaska Airlines’
increased Boeing 737 MAX order is the implications this order has for Alaska
Airlines’ Airbus fleet.
Alaska
Airlines acquired its Airbus aircraft through its Virgin America takeover, and
as it stands the airline has:
- 10 Airbus A319s, which are an average of over 13 years old
- 49 Airbus A320s, which are an average of over 10 years old
- 10 Airbus A321neos, which are an average of under three years old
While
it has long been rumored that Alaska Airlines would retire most of its Airbus
aircraft, that’s now official. Alaska Airlines has confirmed that it will
replace all A319s and A320s with Boeing 737 MAX 9s by mid-2023.
So
while Alaska Airlines won’t go back to an all-Boeing fleet, the Seattle-based
carrier’s Airbus fleet will exclusively consist of 10 A321neos.
As it’s
explained, the 737 MAX 9 is 20% more fuel efficient than the A320 on a per-seat
basis, and it can fly 600 miles farther.
Alaska
Airlines will retire most of its Airbus fleet
Could
Alaska do something cool with remaining A321neos?
While
it’s highly unlikely anything like this will happen soon, one has to wonder if
Alaska could eventually do something special with its A321neo fleet. As much as
I’m sure Alaska would love fleet consistency, it makes perfect sense that Alaska
isn’t retiring these planes, since they’re new and fuel efficient.
With a
subfleet of 10 A321neos, one has to wonder if Alaska Airlines might not
eventually use these in a different way than other planes. For example, could
A321neos eventually be set up for select transcon flights with a better onboard
product?
Alaska
is alone in not offering flat beds in business class between New York and Los
Angeles/San Francisco. The airline has doubled down on this concept and seems
fine with giving up the premium market, though could that eventually
change?
This is
entirely speculation on my part, though 10 A321neos seems like a potentially
decent subfleet to have.
Alaska’s current Airbus inflight product
Bottom
line
Alaska
Airlines has increased its Boeing 737 MAX 9 order to 68 planes, with an option
for a further 52. The planes on firm order will be delivered between 2021 and
2024. As part of this deal, Alaska Airlines will also retire its A319 and A320
aircraft by 2023, meaning that the only Airbus aircraft the airline will operate
will be 10 A321neos.
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