Alaska Airlines fleet

Gallery

• 
  Boeing 737-700
• 
  Boeing 737-700F
• 
  Boeing 737-800
• 
  Boeing 737-900ER
• 
  Boeing 737 MAX 8
• 
  Boeing 737 MAX 9
• 
  Boeing 787-9
• 
  Embraer 175

Hercules

In 1965, Alaska Airlines tested the Lockheed L-100 Hercules prototype (civil version of the C-130 military transport) for a month, flying it, among other places, to Alaska's rugged North Slope (facing the Arctic Ocean), then a center of oil exploration, all of which relied on air transport.^[10] It proved to be the key aircraft for the task, able to land a full load on short gravel runways with easy unloading from its rear ramp.^[11] Alaska had two Hercules in its fleet by year-end 1966,^[12] growing to three in year-end 1968^[13] (the year oil was discovered, which became the Prudhoe Bay Oil Field),^[14] and four by year-end 1970.^[15] But in 1970 expected construction of the Alaska pipeline was suddenly delayed by open-ended litigation by native Alaskan and environmentalists.^[16] Alaska's Hercules fleet dropped to one aircraft at year-end 1971,^[17] and in 1972 it suspended the program indefinitely.^[18]

MD-80

In the 1980s, Alaska began acquiring McDonnell Douglas MD-80s.^[19] Alaska acquired additional MD-80s via the acquisition of Jet America Airlines in 1987.^[20] Alaska was the launch customer for the MD-83 and took delivery of the first airplanes in 1985.^[19] Alaska continued to take delivery of new MD-83s in the 1990s, both to meet the demands of a growing route system and to retire its aging and fuel-inefficient 727 fleets. In 2005, due to the greater efficiency of the Boeing 737 Next Generation and rising costs for maintenance, fuel and crew training, Alaska Airlines decided to phase out the remaining 26 MD-80s and trained the pilots to fly the newer 737-800s that were being ordered to replace them. The last MD-80 flights took place in August 2008.^[19]

All-Boeing fleet

Alaska used eight Boeing 737–200 Combi/QCs to suit the unique needs of flying milk runs in the state of Alaska. These combi aircraft operated with a mixed load of passengers and freight on the main deck. They were valued for their ability to be rapidly reconfigured, hence the moniker QC or "Quick Change", to match the cargo and passenger loads for any given flight. In the all-freight configuration, the 737-200 Combis carried up to six cargo containers, known as "igloos." The palletized floor allowed for passenger seating to range from 26 to 72 seats. The 737-200s were gravel-kitted, which allowed them to be used at airports such as Red Dog, which formerly featured a gravel runway.^[21] The last 737-200 Combi was retired in 2007 and is now displayed at the Alaska Aviation Museum.^[22][23]

Between 2006 and 2007, Alaska replaced the 737-200s with six reconfigured 737-400s. Five featured a mixed cargo/passenger Combi arrangement. One was a freighter carrying only cargo. Unlike the 737-200 Combi, the 737-400 Combis featured a fixed seating capacity of 72 seats.^[24] The 737-400 Combi aircraft were retired in October 2017.^[25][26] Alaska Airlines retired their passenger 737-400s in March 2018. At the time, it was the last major airline operating the 737 Classic.

The current cargo fleet consists of three Boeing 737-700 freighter jets, that were formerly passenger aircraft and converted to cargo aircraft in 2016 and 2017 by Israel Aerospace Industries.^[27] By the end of 2023, Alaska Air Cargo plans to add three 737-800 freighters to be converted by Boeing, from Alaska's existing fleet.^{[citation needed]} Because the -800 can carry 40% more cargo than the -700, the aircraft will nearly double Alaska Air Cargo's available capacity.^{[citation needed]}

After Alaska merged with Virgin America on January 11, 2018, it took possession of its fleet of Airbus aircraft. Over time, the airline slowly removed the Airbus jets from its fleet. All ten Airbus A319 jets were taken out of service in mid-2020 due to insufficient demand and low-profit margins due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[28] The fleet of 53 A320 jets was slowly removed from service as leases expired and new 737s were purchased, with the final jet going out of service in January 2023.^[29][30] The airline's ten remaining Airbus A321neo jets are scheduled to be removed from service by the end of 2023, as part of their fleet simplification plan to revert to an all-Boeing fleet.^[31]

In January 2021, Alaska Airlines took delivery of its first 737 MAX 9, registered N913AK.^[32]

In January 2023, Alaska Horizon operated their last Bombardier Q400 flight.^[33][34]

In June 2024, Alaska began retirement of their Boeing 737-900 fleet, with the last retired in late 2025.^[35]