Alaska Airlines to purchase five Boeing 737-900ER (extended range) aircraft

SEATTLE, 2013-09-30 — /travelprnews.com/ — Alaska Airlines (NYSE: ALK) and Boeing (NYSE: BA) announced today the carrier is exercising options to purchase five Boeing 737-900ER (extended range) aircraft. The five new aircraft are worth $481 million at Boeing’s current list price. Two of the aircraft will arrive in 2015 followed by two more in 2016 and one in 2017.

“Today’s announcement supports our goal of growing Alaska Airlines 4 to 8 percent a year, profits permitting,” said Mark Eliasen, Alaska Air Group’s vice president of finance and treasurer. “The 737-900ER is a great aircraft, with the comfort, reliability and low operating costs needed for us to be successful in today’s competitive marketplace.”

Today’s order supplements the 31 aircraft on firm order for delivery by the end of 2017. Alaska Airlines expects to have 134 Boeing 737s in its fleet by the end of 2014.

“The order of five additional 737-900ERs is an affirmation of our hometown partner’s successful strategy of offering customers good value, delivering a great onboard experience and running an on-time airline,” said Brad McMullen, vice president of sales North America, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “The 737-900ER offers Alaska Airlines the best seat-mile cost of any single-aisle airplane in production, which is especially important with today’s high fuel prices. The interior also complements Alaska’s excellent customer service, providing passengers with a wonderful flying experience.”

Editor’s note: A high-resolution photo of a 737-900ER is available for download from Alaska Airlines’ online image gallery at http://bit.ly/15vJBIn.

Alaska Airlines, a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK), together with its partner regional airlines, serves 95 cities through an expansive network in Alaska, the Lower 48, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico. Alaska Airlines has ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Traditional Network Carriers” in the J.D. Power and Associates North America Airline Satisfaction StudySM for six consecutive years from 2008 to 2013. For reservations, visit www.alaskaair.com. For more news and information, visit the Alaska Airlines Newsroom at www.alaskaair.com/newsroom.

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