More Cargo Capacity: Alaska Airlines To Retire Boeing 737-700 Fleet By Next Year

Alaska Airlines plans to retire its Boeing 737-700 passenger fleet by 2027, replacing the smaller aircraft with Boeing 737-800s to boost both passenger and lower-deck cargo capacity. The change is aimed at improving service in Alaska’s remote Arctic and Southeast regions, where air travel is often the only practical way to connect isolated communities and move essential goods, including freight such as seafood. Alaska says the 737-700s carry 124 passengers, while the 737-800s configured for the transition accommodate 161, adding 37 seats per flight. The airline is also using the fleet update to modernize for network demand.