Alaska Airlines launches B737 MAX 9 operations

Alaska Airlines (AS, Seattle Tacoma Int’l) launched B737-9 operations on March 1, 2021, just over a month after the first aircraft of the type, and MAX family for that matter, was delivered to the airline. N913AK (msn 44079) was handed over on January 24 and has since undergone an extensive breaking-in programme including short-haul test flights as well as regular flights to Hawaii and the US East Coast, Flightradar24 ADS-B data shows. While its first commercial service was from Seattle Tacoma Int’l to San Diego Int’l, the B737-9 is currently deployed from Alaska’s main base to San Diego and to Los Angeles Int’l. The airline has already taken deliveries of a further two B737-9s, which have yet to be deployed into revenue service. It plans to operate six units of the type by the peak of the Summer 2021 season. Following last year’s readjustment of its order book, Alaska Airlines has firm orders for a total of sixty-eight B737-9s, including 55 directly from Boeing and 13 from Air Lease Corporation. All three delivered units come from the carrier’s own order book.