Alaska Airlines announces largest fleet order in airline's history

Rhea-AI Summary

Alaska Air Group (NYSE:ALK) ordered 105 737-10 narrowbodies and 5 787 widebodies on Jan 7, 2026, exercising all prior 787 options and securing rights for an additional 35 737-10 aircraft.

The purchase is the largest in airline history for Alaska, extends aircraft deliveries through 2035, and brings the company’s Boeing orderbook to 245 aircraft. Alaska expects its fleet to grow from 413 today to > 475 by 2030 and > 550 by 2035. The five new 787s are intended as -10 variants and support expansion to at least 12 long‑haul destinations by 2030.

Positive

• Order for 105 737-10 narrowbodies
• Firm order for 5 787 widebodies (exercised options)
• Rights for 35 additional 737-10 aircraft
• Orderbook totals 245 Boeing aircraft
• Fleet growth to > 475 aircraft by 2030

Negative

• Aircraft delivery stream extended through 2035

News Market Reaction

-1.83%

1 alert

-1.83% News Effect

On the day this news was published, ALK declined 1.83%, reflecting a mild negative market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Key Figures

737-10 order: 105 aircraft 787 order: 5 aircraft 737-10 options: 35 aircraft +5 more

8 metrics

737-10 order 105 aircraft New Boeing 737-10 order extending deliveries through 2035

787 order 5 aircraft Additional 787 widebody aircraft ordered, exercising prior options

737-10 options 35 aircraft Additional 737-10 purchase rights within same timeframe

Total Boeing orderbook 245 aircraft Total Boeing orderbook after new 737-10 and 787 orders

737 MAX in service 94 aircraft Existing 737 MAX aircraft already operating today

Current fleet size 413 aircraft Alaska Air Group carriers’ fleet at time of announcement

2030 fleet target More than 475 aircraft Projected fleet by 2030

2035 fleet target More than 550 aircraft Projected fleet by 2035

Market Reality Check

Price: $48.86 Vol: Volume 4,183,998 is about...

high vol

$48.86 Last Close

Volume Volume 4,183,998 is about 1.55x the 20-day average of 2,695,234, indicating elevated trading ahead of this fleet news. high

Technical Price at $50.73 is trading marginally above the 200-day MA at $50.25, after a -2.39% move and sitting 35.03% below the 52-week high.

Peers on Argus

ALK was down 2.39% with heavier volume while major peers like AAL (-1.17%), CPA ...

ALK was down 2.39% with heavier volume while major peers like AAL (-1.17%), CPA (-2.07%), SKYW (-1.65%) and LUV (-0.12%) also traded lower, but JBLU gained 5.62%, pointing to mixed, stock-specific dynamics rather than a uniform sector move.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jan 05 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Jan 05	Capex/investment plan	Positive	+0.9%	Hawaiian’s over $600M five‑year modernization and community investment plan.
Jan 05	Capex/investment plan	Positive	+0.9%	Hawaiian outlines $600M plan for airports, tech, interiors and sustainability.
Dec 19	Route expansion	Positive	+2.9%	Resumption of nonstop Paine Field–Portland service starting June 2026.
Dec 19	Leadership change	Positive	+0.3%	Appointment of new VP safety and security overseeing groupwide safety.
Dec 18	Route expansion	Positive	+1.2%	Seven new 2026 routes from Anchorage and Portland across key markets.

Pattern Detected

Recent route and investment announcements have generally coincided with modest positive next-day price reactions, suggesting the stock has historically responded constructively to growth and network expansion updates.

Recent Company History

Over the past months, Alaska Air Group has focused on growth and integration. News on Dec 18, 2025 and Dec 19, 2025 highlighted new routes and resumed service, with positive price reactions under 3%. Multiple Hawaiian Airlines investment announcements on Jan 5, 2026 outlined more than $600M in upgrades and community initiatives, also met with a small gain. These steps form a backdrop of measured expansion against which today’s record fleet order further scales the network and long‑haul ambitions.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement outlines a major capacity expansion, with 105 737‑10s and 5 additional 787s liftin...

Analysis

This announcement outlines a major capacity expansion, with 105 737‑10s and 5 additional 787s lifting the Boeing orderbook to 245 aircraft and targeting a fleet of more than 550 by 2035. It extends Alaska’s reach into Europe and Asia while building on recent route additions and Hawaiian integration investments. Investors may track upcoming delivery schedules, long‑haul route performance, and how these commitments interact with earnings and cash flow trends noted in recent SEC filings.

Key Terms

widebody aircraft, narrowbody fleet, livery

3 terms

widebody aircraft technical

"Alaska orders 105 737-10 aircraft and 5 787 widebody aircraft"

A widebody aircraft is a large commercial airplane with two passenger aisles and substantially more seating and cargo space than a single-aisle jet, like trading a sedan for a city bus. For investors, it matters because these planes cost more to buy, operate and maintain but can serve long-haul routes and carry more passengers or cargo, affecting an airline’s revenue potential, fuel and crew costs, fleet planning and lease or financing needs.

narrowbody fleet technical

"Alaska already operates a narrowbody fleet that includes 737-9 and 737-8"

A narrowbody fleet is the group of single-aisle passenger aircraft an airline uses, typically on short- to medium-haul routes and seating roughly 100–240 passengers. Investors care because the mix and size of these planes affect route flexibility, fuel and maintenance costs, and how quickly capacity can be adjusted—like a delivery service choosing vans versus trucks, the fleet mix shapes revenue potential, operating margins, and capital spending.

livery technical

"welcome its first 787 widebody aircraft in the new Alaska global livery"

A livery is the distinctive color scheme, logo placement and overall visual design applied to a company’s vehicles, uniforms, packaging or buildings so they’re instantly recognizable. For investors it signals brand consistency and market presence—like a sports team’s colors that help fans spot them from far away—and can affect customer trust, advertising value and asset maintenance costs, all of which influence revenue and long-term brand strength.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

• Alaska orders 105 737-10 aircraft and 5 787 widebody aircraft – extending the delivery stream through 2035
• The order includes an option for 35 additional 737-10 aircraft within the same timeframe
• The airline will also welcome its first 787 widebody aircraft in the new Alaska global livery into its fleet, which will be seen operating across Europe and Asia

SEATTLE, Jan. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Alaska Airlines announced today it is ordering 105 new 737-10 aircraft and five new 787 aircraft – exercising all previous 787 options held with Boeing. The airline also secured rights for an additional 35 737-10 aircraft. This order – representing the largest order in the airline's history – secures critical delivery slots and extends the aircraft delivery stream through 2035.

"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," said CEO 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. We are incredibly proud to be partnering with Boeing, a Pacific Northwest neighbor and a company that stands as a symbol of American innovation and manufacturing."

• This order brings Alaska's total orderbook with Boeing to 245 aircraft, in addition to the 94 MAX aircraft we're operating today.
• A mix of growth aircraft and replacement for aging 737s, this order will keep Alaska's fleet one of the youngest in the industry and the most fuel efficient for any premium, global airline.
• Alaska already operates a narrowbody fleet that includes 737-9 and 737-8 aircraft. This order is for 737-10 aircraft, but the airline retains the flexibility to adjust to a different model if necessary.
• The five additional 787 widebody aircraft support the Alaska Accelerate strategic plan and will enable the airline to fly to at least 12 long-haul international destinations from Seattle by 2030. The order brings our firm future 787 widebody fleet to 17, with five already in operation across the network. The intention is for these five 787s to be delivered as the -10 variant.
• With a current fleet of 413 aircraft, Alaska Air Group's carriers will operate a fleet of more than 475 aircraft by 2030 and more than 550 aircraft by 2035.

This morning in Seattle, leaders from Alaska Airlines, Boeing and the U.S. Department of Transportation will join with employees, customers and guests to celebrate this fleet order and welcome the first 787-9 painted in Alaska's global livery. The new 787-9 exterior design draws inspiration from the natural wonder of the Aurora Borealis, featuring a palette of deep midnight blues and lush emerald greens that channel the aurora's energy and spirit of the Alaska brand. Utilizing a new aircraft painting technique, it took artists nearly 1000 hours across 13 days to paint the aircraft exterior from nose to tail.

"As we transform into the country's fourth largest global airline, we are proud to introduce a new, global livery for the Alaska brand. The design is a tribute to Alaska's rich history and a reflection of our bold vision for international growth and our commitment to connect the Pacific Northwest to the world," added Minicucci.

As the company's brand strategy expands to meet its growing global footprint, essential elements of our two airline brands' legacies and history remain unchanged. The core Alaska Airlines brand expression will remain with the Alaska Native on the tail of narrowbody aircraft flying throughout the North American continent. The Hawaiian Airlines brand will continue to be expressed in service to, from and within the Hawaiian Islands with Pualani on the tail of Airbus A321, A330 and Boeing 717 aircraft.

Flights to Europe and Asia from our expanding global gateway in Seattle are available for booking now at alaskaair.com:

• London Heathrow, United Kingdom: Daily, year-round flights beginning May 21, 2026
• Rome, Italy: Daily, summer seasonal flights beginning April 28, 2026
• Reykjavik, Iceland: Daily, summer seasonal flights beginning May 28, 2026 (operated on a 737-8 MAX)
• Tokyo Narita, Japan: Daily, year-round flights already in service
• Seoul Incheon, South Korea: five-times-weekly, year-round flights already in service

About Alaska Air Group
Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group, and McGee Air Services is a subsidiary of Alaska Airlines. We are a global airline with hubs in Seattle, Honolulu, Portland, Anchorage, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. We deliver remarkable care as we fly our guests to more than 140 destinations throughout North America, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific. We'll serve Europe beginning in spring 2026. Guests can book travel at alaskaair.com and hawaiianairlines.com. Alaska is a member of the oneworld alliance, with Hawaiian scheduled to join oneworld in spring 2026. With oneworld and our additional global partners, guests can earn and redeem points for travel to over 1,000 worldwide destinations with Atmos Rewards. Learn more about what's happening at Alaska and Hawaiian at news.alaskaair.com. Alaska Air Group is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as "ALK."

 

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/alaska-airlines-announces-largest-fleet-order-in-airlines-history-302654819.html

SOURCE Alaska Airlines

FAQ

What did Alaska Air Group (ALK) announce on Jan 7, 2026 regarding new aircraft orders?

Alaska announced orders for 105 737-10 narrowbodies and 5 787 widebodies, plus rights to 35 more 737-10s.

How does the Jan 7, 2026 order affect Alaska's fleet size and timeline (ALK)?

The order raises the Boeing orderbook to 245 aircraft and signals fleet growth from 413 today to > 475 by 2030 and > 550 by 2035.

Will Alaska (ALK) use the five new 787 widebodies for international expansion?

Yes; the five 787s are intended as -10 variants to support flying to at least 12 long‑haul destinations by 2030.

Does the Alaska order include options or rights for additional aircraft (ALK)?

Yes; Alaska secured rights for an additional 35 737-10 aircraft within the same delivery timeframe.

When will Alaska begin year‑round flights to London as part of its expanded global network?

Daily, year‑round flights to London Heathrow begin on May 21, 2026.