Alaska Airlines to Retire Boeing 737-700 Aircraft

Alaska Airlines is set to retire its fleet of Boeing 737-700 aircraft next year, transitioning to the larger 800 Series planes. The switch is expected to bring increased passenger capacity and improved cargo space, particularly for flights serving Southeast Alaska.

Enhancing Service on Southeast Alaska Routes

The airline currently uses the 737-700 model for multi-stop runs throughout Southeast Alaska, including the popular morning "milk run" from Seattle to Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, Juneau, and Anchorage. The same route is flown in reverse during the afternoon. Beginning next year, Alaska Airlines will operate these and similar routes with the Boeing 737-800, which offers significant upgrades over its predecessor.

Key Differences: Boeing 737-700 vs. 737-800

The newer Boeing 737-800 jets have the capacity to carry 161 passengers, which represents a 37-seat increase over the 124-passenger 700 Series. Additionally, the 800 Series aircraft are roughly 20 feet longer than the 700s and boast about 50% more belly room for luggage and freight, benefitting both passengers and cargo shippers. Scott Habberstad, Alaska Airlines’ manager for the Alaska market, highlighted that the enhanced cargo capacity would be particularly helpful for seafood shippers in the region.

Passenger Comfort and Modernization

Passengers will also experience upgrades in comfort and convenience. The 800 Series aircraft are equipped with improved and faster in-flight Wi-Fi service compared to the older planes, contributing to the airline's broader goals of modernization and enhancing the travel experience on regional flights.

Fleet Transition Timeline and Details

Alaska Airlines currently operates 11 of the Boeing 737-700 aircraft, which are among the oldest in its fleet at approximately 25 or 26 years old. The company maintains a total fleet of nearly 240 Boeing twin-engine jets, continuously introducing newer models. The retirement and transition process for the 700 Series will begin early next year, with expectations to complete the phase-out by the end of summer, according to Habberstad's comments at the annual Southeast Conference gathering.

Continued Cargo Operations and Aircraft Destinations

Following the retirement, the routes previously served by the 737-700 will be taken over by the nearly 60 Boeing 737-800s in the company’s fleet. Alaska Airlines also operates three all-cargo 700 aircraft and two all-cargo 800 Series jets; the cargo-only 700s will not be retired along with the passenger models. Habberstad noted that the retired passenger 700s will likely be relocated to warmer, drier climates, with most expected to be stored in aircraft graveyards in Arizona.

Source: juneauempire.com.