Boeing Commercial Airplanes started 2026 reporting an impressive new order for up to 145 new aircraft from Alaska Airlines, a placement with a market value estimated at $15 billion based on list prices. The OEM described this as the largest new-aircraft order in the history of Alaska Airlines, which has been operating Boeing aircraft for 60 years and is now expanding its domestic and international service.
"This is a historic airplane order underwritten by Alaska Airlines' record of strong performance and strategic expansion,” stated Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
In detail, Alaska Airlines is acquiring 105 new 737 MAX-10 airplanes and taking options for 35 more of those narrow-body jets.
Alaska Airlines currently operates 174 Boeing 737 MAX-8 and MAX-9 aircraft, and 74 more aircraft of the previous 737 Next Generation series.
The new order was announced two years plus two days after an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX-9 jet endured a midair structural failure, when the side door plug failed after takeoff from Portland, Ore. The crew landed the jet without loss of life, but the incident led to more than a year of Federal Aviation Administration oversight of the 737 MAX program.
Coincidentally, the pilot who piloted the Alaska Airlines jet in 2024 this week filed a defamation suit against Boeing seeking $10 million in damages, claiming the manufacturer sought to blame the flight crew for the midair incident.
Alaska Airlines’ new order anticipates the FAA’s certification of the largest variant of the 737 MAX series, which has been expected for several years but delayed by updated requirements. Currently, the 737 MAX-10 is expected to debut in 2027, with WestJet.
Boeing emphasized that the 737-10 will give Alaska Airlines more flexibility as it expands its network, but will maintain commonality with its existing 737 fleet.
The new order also includes five 787 Dreamliner widebody jets, which will be used for Alaska Airline’s intercontinental service to Asia and Europe.
"This fleet investment builds on the strong foundation Alaska has created to support steady, scalable and sustained growth, and is another building block in executing our Alaska Accelerate strategic plan," stated the Alaska Air Group CEO and President Ben Minicucci. "These planes will fuel our expansion to more destinations across the globe and ensure our guests travel aboard the newest, most fuel-efficient and state-of-the-art aircraft."
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Robert Brooks
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Robert Brooks has been a business-to-business reporter, writer, editor, and columnist for more than 20 years, specializing in the primary metal and basic manufacturing industries.