Alaska Airlines took delivery of its first 737 MAX 8, adding additional range and flexibility to its fleet. The carrier holds orders for 20-40 MAX 8s, with seven more deliveries planned for 2024.
The addition of the 737-8 and eventually the 737-10 to our fleet creates new opportunities for us to fly longer nonstop routes and maximize our revenue potential. We have achieved terrific results with the 737-9 in guest satisfaction, economics and fuel efficiency, and we are excited for our future with the other 737 models. – Nat Pieper, senior vice president of fleet, finance and alliances at Alaska Airlines
The aircraft is currently scheduled to enter service between Los Angeles and Portland on 15 February 2024. Another four MAX 8s are slated to join the fleet in March, allowing the carrier to dramatically expand operations with the type. It will serve 16 markets by mid-March, according to Cirium data.
The extended range of the MAX 8 enables Alaska Airlines to add nonstop Anchorage-New York JFK service over the summer. At 3,386 miles the route will be the longest in the carrier’s network.
Alaska Airlines holds firm orders for 80 more MAX planes, with options for an additional 105. The order book remains flexible within the MAX family. The order includes 737-8, 737-9 and 737-10 aircraft, enabling Alaska to optimally match aircraft size and capability with market characteristics.
Consistent, but shifting interior layout
Alaska Airlines will initially deploy the MAX 8 with a layout nearly identical to the company’s 737-800 fleet. The first five will be delivered with the existing cabin design, including 12 first class seats, 30 premium, and 117 economy. Later this year, however, the layout will shift in line with the carrier’s plan to retrofit its 737-800s. That includes adding four additional first class seats to the cabin.
This also means the first five MAX 8s will be delivered with the same seats as the current MAX 9s. These do not include the tablet holders, among other bits. Deliveries later this year and beyond will include the new seats. The first five will also eventually be retrofit to bring consistency to the new fleet.
More seats on board
The new seat count – 161 total with 16 in first class – also means two seats will be removed from economy class. This will be achieved by compressing the rows around the over wing exits and removing one window seat on each side there, akin to how the carrier’s 737-700s are configured. The carrier says the new layout will include new seats (presumably still from Recaro, though that is not explicitly stated) “all while maintaining the same space our guests are accustomed to right now.”
The 161 seat layout is part of a $130 million investment the carrier is making in the 737-800 interiors. With that retrofit program kicking off later this year, however, Alaska Airlines also expects some interim cabin changes for that fleet.
The interim update includes updated seat leather design, device holders, LED lighting, updated carpet, and new bulkhead and cabin dividers, but not the extra row of seats. The first of the interim retrofit 737-800s for Alaska Airlines returned to service in November 2022.
No Wi-Fi to start
Alaska Airlines will deploy Intelsat‘s 2Ku inflight Wi-Fi service on the MAX 8 fleet, matching the rest of its operations. But the company website includes a disclaimer noting “our 737-8 MAX fleet will not be delivered with Wi-Fi…some will fly without Wi-Fi for a period of time.” This is similar to the airline’s launch of MAX 9 flights, which also began operations without the Wi-Fi hardware on board. Photos of N801AK show it without the telltale radome hardware atop the fuselage.
The company confirms that inflight internet service will not be available until April 2024. The streaming inflight entertainment offerings will be available from day one.
More about Alaska Airlines’ 737 MAX fleet growth
- Alaska Airlines MAXes out with updated order book
- Alaska Airlines extends Recaro partnership for 737 MAX seating
- Alaska Airlines welcomes complexity with Hawaiian Airlines acquisition
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