More 737-9 MAX Planes Ordered (12/22/2020)
Dec 22, 2020, 7:06 am
#1
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More 737-9 MAX Planes Ordered (12/22/2020)
https://www.seattletimes.com/busines...s-airbus-jets/
Alaska Airlines said Tuesday it has ordered another 23 Boeing 737 MAXs, bringing its total order to 68 MAXs that over the next three years will replace most of the Airbus aircraft in its fleet.
The financial terms Boeing offered would have been difficult to pass up. In an interview, Alaska Air Group chief executive Brad Tilden said the airline will have to pay no additional money for the 13 MAXs it will take next year.
“This does not actually require any capital spending during 2021,” he said.
The financial terms Boeing offered would have been difficult to pass up. In an interview, Alaska Air Group chief executive Brad Tilden said the airline will have to pay no additional money for the 13 MAXs it will take next year.
“This does not actually require any capital spending during 2021,” he said.
Dec 22, 2020, 7:11 am
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Press release
"We are extremely proud to be announcing this transformative agreement with Boeing," said Brad Tilden, CEO of Alaska Air Group. "We believe in this airplane, we believe in our strong partnership with Boeing, and we believe in the future of Alaska Airlines and the incredible opportunities ahead as we climb our way out of this pandemic. We could not ask for a better partner than Boeing and we are delighted to be standing side by side with them as we work together to get our economy back on its feet."
Dec 22, 2020, 12:47 pm
#5
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I am Jack’s total lack of surprise. Buh-bye Airbus (I suspect AS will sell their A321s at some point).
https://www.travelcodex.com/alaska-airlines-orders-23-more-boeing-737-9-aircraft-for-all-737-fleet/
https://www.travelcodex.com/alaska-airlines-orders-23-more-boeing-737-9-aircraft-for-all-737-fleet/
Dec 22, 2020, 3:03 pm
#7
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I think eventually Alaska will convert some of the orders to the MAX 8. The MAX 9 (like the -900ER) can’t operate into all of Alaska’s destinations like SNA due to takeoff performance limitations.
Will be interesting to see if they also eventually pick up some MAX 10s, or if the fleet of 10 321neo totally addresses that need.
Will be interesting to see if they also eventually pick up some MAX 10s, or if the fleet of 10 321neo totally addresses that need.
Dec 22, 2020, 5:39 pm
#8
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I think eventually Alaska will convert some of the orders to the MAX 8. The MAX 9 (like the -900ER) can’t operate into all of Alaska’s destinations like SNA due to takeoff performance limitations.
Will be interesting to see if they also eventually pick up some MAX 10s, or if the fleet of 10 321neo totally addresses that need.
Will be interesting to see if they also eventually pick up some MAX 10s, or if the fleet of 10 321neo totally addresses that need.
I am aware that it’s a shorter runway and has noise abatement protocols due to Newport Beach.
Dec 23, 2020, 12:04 am
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What is currently still up in the air AFAIK is the outstanding VX order for 30 320neos they inherited which if they were to keep, should convert to 321s/XLRs which will also create a more substantial subfleet that should satisfy them on their efficiency and costs and provide them with an opportunity to grow long-term, but again that's just my armchair quarterbacking.
Dec 23, 2020, 8:32 am
#11
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From what I've gathered that's precisely it. The 739s have a high thrust to weight ratio which requires a much longer runway than longer planes/planes with more capacity such as a 757 or a 321. This is why you rarely, if ever, see a 739 used on SNA, or DCA for that matter.
I would love to see higher capacity or newer planes utilize SNA in the future!
Bring on the 9s!
Last edited by anteater; Dec 23, 2020 at 8:59 am
Dec 23, 2020, 9:49 am
#12
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I think eventually Alaska will convert some of the orders to the MAX 8. The MAX 9 (like the -900ER) can’t operate into all of Alaska’s destinations like SNA due to takeoff performance limitations.
Will be interesting to see if they also eventually pick up some MAX 10s, or if the fleet of 10 321neo totally addresses that need.
Will be interesting to see if they also eventually pick up some MAX 10s, or if the fleet of 10 321neo totally addresses that need.
Alaska has some short runways (WRG, PSG, GST, OTZ to name a few) but those are mitigated by the relatively short stage length of flights out of those cities.
Dec 23, 2020, 9:53 am
#13
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It looks like they've got about 1000' to work with at each end without getting additional land, but they'll probably get a lot of pushback from the neighbors anyway,
Dec 23, 2020, 9:14 pm
#14
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I think eventually Alaska will convert some of the orders to the MAX 8. The MAX 9 (like the -900ER) can’t operate into all of Alaska’s destinations like SNA due to takeoff performance limitations.
Will be interesting to see if they also eventually pick up some MAX 10s, or if the fleet of 10 321neo totally addresses that need.
Will be interesting to see if they also eventually pick up some MAX 10s, or if the fleet of 10 321neo totally addresses that need.
Last edited by Tack; Dec 23, 2020 at 9:37 pm
Dec 24, 2020, 12:07 am
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From what I've gathered that's precisely it. The 739s have a high thrust to weight ratio which requires a much longer runway than longer planes/planes with more capacity such as a 757 or a 321. This is why you rarely, if ever, see a 739 used on SNA, or DCA for that matter. I am sure they are weighing the value of keeping a mixed fleet of the 321s in addition to the MAX order just for this reason, especially since the DCA flights are some of their most popular during normal travel times, so they would have to reduce capacity since slots are so hard to come by if they were to get rid of the 321s by flying a 738/MAX. They could alternatively sink down to the AA Oasis level by cramming in more seats, which I'm sure would go over well with everyone, but seeing their MAX website, they don't seem to be changing the seating configurations from the 900 to the 9.
What is currently still up in the air AFAIK is the outstanding VX order for 30 320neos they inherited which if they were to keep, should convert to 321s/XLRs which will also create a more substantial subfleet that should satisfy them on their efficiency and costs and provide them with an opportunity to grow long-term, but again that's just my armchair quarterbacking.
What is currently still up in the air AFAIK is the outstanding VX order for 30 320neos they inherited which if they were to keep, should convert to 321s/XLRs which will also create a more substantial subfleet that should satisfy them on their efficiency and costs and provide them with an opportunity to grow long-term, but again that's just my armchair quarterbacking.