The Alaska Air group has a relatively large fleet of Boeing 737

aircraft in addition to the recently acquired mixed fleet of other Airbus and Boeing aircraft types, which it secured through its recent purchase of Hawaiian Airlines

.

Alaska Airlines & Hawaiian Airlines PHX

Photo: Lukas Souza | Simple Flying

Lastly, the airline holding group also operates a small fleet of Embraer E175

regional jets operated by Horizon Air, doing business as “AlaskaHorizon”. The Horizon Air-operated E175s are on the newer side, with an average fleet age of only six years.

Horizon Air Embraer E175 taxiing at Seattle Tacoma International Airport SEA shutterstock_2482422699

Photo: Ian Dewar Photography | Shutterstock

More specifically, Alaska Airlines

, operates an aging fleet of 737 Next Generation aircraft, with an average fleet age of over 20 years. Many of the oneworld carriers’ older aircraft have no retirement date set as they serve a special purpose for Alaska. This article will explore Alaska’s oldest aircraft.

A brief history of Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines was founded in 1932 by Linious McGee as McGee Airways and initiated service out of Anchorage’s Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. From day one, the carrier served as a passenger and cargo airline, exclusively transporting goods and people throughout Alaska.

Alaska_Airlines_DC-3_on_ice

From its inception, Alaska Airlines has participated in numerous mergers and acquisitions to expand its presence throughout Alaska and the US West Coast, and most recently, globally. The airline has been recognized for its focus on innovation and “best-in-class” customer service.

Alaska Airlines 737-400 COMBI

Photo: Alaska Airlines

Throughout its long history, the airline has operated many aircraft types to conduct its versatile operations. Today, Alaska is one of the largest airlines in the US. The list below displays the numerous aircraft Alaska has operated over its 92-year tenure.

  • Bellanca Pacemaker
  • Lockheed Lodestar
  • Douglas DC-3
  • Grumman Goose
  • Convair 880
  • Boeing 727
  • McDonnell Douglas MD-80 family
  • Boeing 737 family

Related

80 Years Under Its Current Name: Exploring Alaska Airlines’ Early History

Tracing the journey of Alaska Airlines from its roots in 1932 to its rebranding in 1944.

Becoming a 737 carrier

The early 1980s saw the growing success and prominence of lower-cost airlines. Alaska Airlines took note of Southwest Airlines’ early financial triumphs and operational efficiencies with its fleet of exclusively 737 classic aircraft. Alaska acquired its first 737 in 1981, the legacy carrier took delivery of a single 737-200 “combi.”

“The airline industry fundamentally changed in the ‘90s, streamlining its cost structure and increasing aircraft utilization. At Alaska Airlines, we reshaped ourselves faster and more comprehensively than any carrier—all while maintaining a competitive advantage in customer service.” said an official staff writer from the Alaska Air Group.

According to Alaska Airlines, the small but agile carrier lobbied for a deal with the International Lease Finance Corporation for 24 examples of 737-400 aircraft. These aircraft differed from the combi because they focused on passenger accommodation vs a hybrid cargo-passenger operation. On April 28, 1995, Alaska took delivery of its first 737-400.

alaska-airlines boeing-737-400

Photo: BriYYZ | Flickr

The arrival of the fully passenger-configured 737 was a major milestone for Alaska. The 737 would be a pivotal part of its fleet for many years to come, allowing Alaska to expand its service throughout the West Coast and beyond.

The 737 combi

When the combi was introduced in the early 1980s, it was an incredibly special aircraft because, in addition to its large forward cargo bay, it also had a small passenger cabin, featuring a movable partition that could assist with increasing the cargo hold or passenger cabin size.

Alaska 737 combi

Photo: Alaska Airlines

The combi was the perfect aircraft for Alaska’s extensive inter-Alaska operations because it could transport a large amount of cargo to remote parts of Alaska in addition to a select number of passengers. This aircraft served as a lifeline for the state of Alaska because, without its service, many of these communities would have been completely cut off from the rest of the world.

The original 737-200 Combi for Alaska Airlines

Photo: Alaska Airlines

Between 2006 and 2007, Alaska replaced its aging fleet of 737-200 combis with six reconfigured 737-400s, effectively making them combi aircraft. The 737 combi often flew multi-stop trips between cities in the Alaskan panhandle and northern Alaska. For many years, the combi flew the long-running “milk run” route, which would connect goods and people with Washington state, Anchorage, and remote parts of Alaska.

Boeing ushers in a new generation of the 737

Alaska Airlines continued to take deliveries of the 737 “Classic” aircraft throughout the mid-to-late 1990s, and in 1999, the carrier began taking delivery of the newly minted 737 “Next Generation” aircraft. On July 28, 1999, Alaska’s first 737-700NG aircraft was delivered, factory fresh, to its Seattle home.

CDA_OAK_Tarmac_1185j - Oakland International Airport Air Control Tower & Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-900ER N278AK
Photo: Port of Oakland | Flickr

Throughout the early 2000s, the 737-700NG allowed Alaska Airlines to expand across the lower 48 from its Seattle hub. As the 737 could reach places like Boston, Newark, and Washington DC, Alaska was growing from a small regional carrier to a carrier with national scale.

N320AS_Boeing_737_Alaska_Tail-1

In 2005, the airline became a one-aircraft-type operator when it decided to retire its remaining 26 McDonnell Douglas MD-80 aircraft. The 737NGs exceeded Alaska’s expectations and provided a major cost advantage over the archaic MD-80.

Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-790 (N619AS).

Photo: Joe Kunzler | Simple Flying

Alaska was a Boeing launch customer

In 1997, Alaska further showed its commitment to Boeing and its hometown of Seattle by becoming the 737-900NG launch customer. The company threw a large celebration at one of Boeing’s facilities to celebrate the launch of the new aircraft.

“Iditarod Trail sled-dog race champion, Doug Swingley, and his team escorted the first 737-900NG out of the factory for its world premiere rollout celebration in Renton, WA.”

The 737-900NG opened a new chapter for Alaska, becoming the largest aircraft the small carrier had ever operated. In 2001, three 737-900NGs were delivered, bringing Alaska’s fleet to 100 aircraft.

Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9

Photo: Alaska Airlines

Modern-day single-type operations

According to planespotters.net, Alaska’s first 737-700NG, registered as N607AS, is still flying with the carrier today. The Alaska Air group aims to integrate Hawaiian fully into Alaska Airlines and have the pair achieve a single operating certificate by late 2025. Both carriers will operate separately until one operating certificate is approved and achieved. Today, Alaska exclusively operates the 737.

Alaska Airlines aircraft.

Photo: Alaska Airlines

This list includes the 737-700/800 aircraft converted into “freighters”.

737 Variant:

Fleet total:

737-700

14

737-800

61

737-900

5

737-900ER

79

737 MAX 8

5

737 MAX 9

73

Alaska is currently in the midst of a fleet modernization overhaul. Over the last three years, the airline has taken delivery of over 50 brand-new 737 MAX aircraft. The oneworld Alliance carrier is expected to receive 15 additional MAX 8s through 2026. The MAX 9s deliveries will conclude this year. Alaska anxiously awaits the certification of the MAX 10, as it currently has 51 frames on order.

Three Alaska Airlines Planes at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport SEA TAC

Photo: Jonathan E. Hendry | Simple Flying

737 freighters

In October 2017, Alaska retired its last 737 combi and converted some of its older 737-700s into exclusively cargo-hauling aircraft. These aircraft are still flying today as “Alaska Air Cargo.” The converted cargo haulers started their career as passenger jets, as part of Alaska’s original 737NG order.

fleet_boeing-737_freighter-fleet

Photo: Alaska Airlines

In 2022, Alaska announced that it would convert two of its older 737-800s into cargo haulers. As of January 2025, Alaska has five 737 cargo aircraft. The airline’s cargo operations transport goods throughout Alaska and between Anchorage, Seattle, and Los Angeles. The 737-700 and -800 cargo-configured variants are over 15 years old.

Alaska Airlines freighter route map 2024

Photo: Alaska Airlines

Alaska says farewell to the 737-900

Alaska took delivery of only 12 examples of the mighty 737-900 between 2001 and 2000. Currently, only five remain, and the carrier will retire the entire fleet later this year. Alaska decided to retire this aircraft as they take delivery of newer, more fuel-efficient MAX generation aircraft. The 737-900 lacks versatility due to its emergency exit configuration and lack of an auxiliary fuel tank.

The imagery gallery below displays Alaska’s 737s without blended winglets. A winglet-less wing is among one of the notable differentiators between the 737-900 and 737-900ER, albeit, Alaska did retrofit some of its -900s with winglets.

Related

The End Of An Era: Alaska Airlines Begins Boeing 737-900 Retirements

The carrier became the launch customer of the aircraft type nearly three decades ago.

Which 737s are the oldest?

Specifically, ch-aviation reports that the 737-700, 737-700 freighter, and 737-900 are Alaska Airlines’ oldest active aircraft. These aircraft have maintained a long and stable career with Alaska, and some will continue to serve the growing carrier for years. Respectively, the 737-700 and the converted freighter aircraft still have a long future ahead as they serve a very special niche for Alaska.

Alaska Airlines aircraft parked at the gates at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport SEA shutterstock_1766083010

Photo: Bill Roque | Shutterstock

The 737-700 is the perfect aircraft for inter-Alaska passenger routes because it has a smaller passenger capacity. At just 124 seats, the 737-700, often stylized as the “73G,” can be efficiently deployed into smaller markets that don’t warrant the demand of a larger jet, such as the MAX 9.

Both -700 and -800 freighter aircraft are designed with special performance power to withstand the challenging environment that the state of Alaska presents. An aircraft’s age is measured in pressurization cycles, and cargo aircraft often have a lower utilization rate, allowing for a longer calendar year measured life.

Alaska Airlines Cargo Boeing 737-800 freighter N584AS.

Photo: Alaska Airlines

The longest route the 737-700 is scheduled to operate this month will be between Anchorage, AK and Portland, OR. This route will cover just over 1,500nm. Other long 73G routes are as follows:

  • Fairbanks-Seattle
  • Anchorage-Seattle
  • Anchorage-Adak
  • Seattle-Phoenix
Screen Shot 2025-03-13 at 2.32.44 PM

Photo: GCMapper

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