Alaska Airlines leasing more Boeing 737 Max jets
Even before it has received its first Boeing 737 Max jet, Alaska Airlines is leasing 13 more.
It is the first airline to commit to more Max planes since the Federal Aviation Administration cleared the jet to return to service after a long period of grounding.
To fund it, Alaska is selling 10 of its Airbus A320 planes to Air Lease Corporation, which is the same lessor supplying the 13 737 Max 9 planes.
The airline touts the Max aircraft model as more fuel-efficient and carbon-friendly.
"We found an opportunity to sell 10 planes that are not in our long-term plans and replace them with 13 of the most efficient narrow-body aircraft available," said Alaska Air Group CEO Brad Tilden.
With the addition of the leased jets, Alaska will operate a fleet of 32 Max aircraft when it receives the planes it already has on order from Boeing.
Boeing 737 Max planes were grounded back in March 2019 following two fatal crashes which killed more than 300 people.
Following the FAA clearance, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency this week outlined steps required to return the Boeing Max to service in Europe, which is expected some time in early 2021.
Written by Ray Montgomery, US Editor
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
France prepares for a massive strike across all transports on September 18
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt