SEATTLE, May 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- With recovery
on the horizon, Alaska Airlines is taking advantage of strategic
opportunities by adding 30 mainline and regional aircraft to
fulfill capacity needs in the years ahead. And as more travelers
search for additional leisure getaways, Alaska will begin flying to Belize City, Belize.
Growing the Alaska Air Group fleet
Alaska expects domestic travel
to return to pre-COVID levels by the summer of 2022,
which will require more aircraft across Air Group. To prime
the airline for growth, Alaska is
taking the following actions:
- Adding 17 new Embraer 175 jets to the regional fleet in 2022
and 2023 – nine to be operated by Horizon Air and eight by
SkyWest.
- Exercising options for 13 Boeing 737-9 MAX deliveries in
2023 and 2024.
The 17 regional aircraft additions grow Air Group's regional
fleet to 111 planes: 71 at Horizon and 40 with SkyWest. Horizon
will receive its nine additional E175s in the next two years: five
scheduled for delivery in 2022 and four in 2023. This is in
addition to three existing firm E175 orders to be operated by
Horizon. All eight SkyWest aircraft will enter service for
Alaska in 2022.
"Regional aircraft play a huge role in Alaska's growing network," said Nat
Pieper, senior vice president of fleet, finance
and alliances. "As our network expands, regional aircraft
connect smaller communities to our larger hubs providing critical
feed to assist in the development of new markets."
Alaska announced a restructured
agreement with Boeing in December
2020 to acquire 68 737-9 MAX aircraft between 2021 to 2024,
with options for another 52 deliveries between 2023 and
2026. The airline will accept the first 13 options over two
years: nine in 2023 and four in 2024.
"We are excited to exercise options for more 737-9s just months
after committing to 68 firm deliveries. It's another indication
that we're ready for growth," added Pieper.
Alaska adds Belize to its international
destinations
Alaska also announced today new
nonstop service to Belize City,
Belize, in Central America from the West Coast.
Belize will be the fourth country
Alaska flies to from its West
Coast hubs, joining Canada,
Mexico and Costa Rica. Routes and schedules to
Belize will be announced when
ticket sales begin in early June.
"Our guests are eager for more eco-friendly leisure
destinations, especially as they get vaccinated, and we're ready to
offer them terrific options," said Brett
Catlin, Alaska Airlines vice president of network and
alliances. "Belize offers an
unbeatable mix of sensational beaches, iconic cayes and rich
heritage."
Alaska is now a member of the
oneworld global alliance. With oneworld and our
additional airline partners, guests can travel to as many as 1,000
destinations around the world. Along the way, flyers can earn and
redeem miles with Alaska's
highly-acclaimed Mileage Plan program.
About Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines and its regional
partners serve more than 120 destinations across the United States and to Mexico, Canada and Costa
Rica. The airline emphasizes Next-Level
Care for its guests, along with providing low fares,
award-winning customer service and sustainability efforts. On
March 31, 2021, Alaska became the 14th member
of oneworld. With the global alliance and Alaska
Airlines' additional partners, guests can travel to more than 1,000
destinations on more than 20 airlines while earning and redeeming
miles on flights to locations around the world. Learn more about
Alaska
at newsroom.alaskaair.com and blog.alaskaair.com.
Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air
Group (NYSE: ALK).
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SOURCE Alaska Airlines