Alaska Airlines Bets Big on Boeing with 110-Jet Order, Fueling Global Ambitions

Alaska Airlines has announced the largest aircraft order in its history, committing to purchase 110 new jets from Boeing. The deal is a major vote of confidence in the manufacturer. It comes two years after a door plug blew off an Alaska 737 MAX 9 jet mid-flight. The incident caused a major disruption across the aviation industry. The new order underpins the Seattle-based carrier’s aggressive growth strategy. It also supports the plan to become the nation's fourth global airline.

Historic Fleet Commitment and Expansion Strategy

The landmark agreement includes 105 firm orders for the Boeing 737 MAX 10 narrow-body aircraft. It also includes five 787-10 Dreamliner wide-body jets. The airline also secured options for 35 additional MAX 10s. This Alaska Airlines Boeing order extends the carrier’s delivery stream through 2035.

“We are creating the fourth global airline in our country to compete against the ‘Big Three,’” said Alaska CEO Ben Minicucci. The Alaska Air Group fleet modernization plan aims to grow the fleet from about 413 aircraft today to over 550 by 2035.

Fueling International Ambitions

The five Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner aircraft are key to the airline’s push into long-haul international markets. These wide-body jets will support new routes to Europe and Asia. The carrier plans to launch services to London and Rome in the coming months. The additional 787s will enable the airline to fly to at least 12 long-haul international destinations from its Seattle hub by 2030.

Meanwhile, the 737 MAX 10s will bolster domestic operations. They will also replace older aircraft. The new jets provide the capacity and unit-cost economics needed to integrate the networks of Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines. Alaska acquired Hawaiian Airlines in 2024 for $1.9 billion.

Confidence Amidst Certification Challenges

The largest aircraft order in history for Alaska Airlines signals its trust in Boeing’s ongoing quality improvements. The 737 MAX door plug incident led to intense regulatory scrutiny. It also forced Alaska to ground its MAX 9 fleet temporarily. Since then, Alaska has deployed its own inspectors to Boeing’s production lines. It also instituted quarterly audits to improve safety oversight.

Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg acknowledged the significance of the deal. He stated the airline was “doubling down, putting your eggs in our basket, and we need to perform.”

The MAX 10 Certification Outlook

The 737 MAX 10 remains uncertified by the FAA. This creates a key risk for the delivery schedule. The certification timeline has been pushed back due to an unresolved engine anti-ice (EAI) design issue. Boeing is working to stabilize the 737 MAX program after years of delays.

• The 737 MAX 10 certification is now anticipated in 2026, according to Boeing executives.
• Alaska CEO Ben Minicucci voiced confidence the MAX 10 will achieve certification. The airline retains flexibility to pivot to another MAX variant if needed.
• The FAA cleared Boeing in October 2025 to raise the 737 MAX production rate to 42 jets per month. This eased the 38-per-month cap imposed after the January 2024 emergency.

This massive order is a pivotal moment for both companies. For Alaska, it secures a streamlined delivery schedule for the next decade. This is crucial for its growth plan to compete against the Big Three U.S. carriers. For Boeing, it is a crucial validation of its turnaround efforts and a strong signal of customer loyalty. The deal adds to Boeing's growing backlog of commercial wins. For more details on the industry's reaction, visit our commercial aviation news section at flying.flights.