SEATTLE — Alaska Airlines is adding more orders to its 737-9 MAX agreement with Boeing, while making plans to start flying passengers on the jet in March.
Under the restructured order, Alaska will receive a total of 68 Boeing 737-9 MAX aircraft with an option for an additional 52 planes. The agreement adds 23 orders.
Alaska Airlines is scheduled to receive 13 planes next year, 30 in 2022, 13 in 2023, and 12 in 2024.
The planes will largely replace Alaska's Airbus fleet, which has 61 short-term leases inherited through the company's acquisition of Virgin America.
The 737-9 will replace all A319 and A320 aircraft in Alaska's fleet, reducing its Airbus fleet to 10 A321neos by 2023.
Alaska Airlines President Ben Minicucci spoke to KING 5 in an exclusive interview Tuesday about the airlines plans for Boeing's 737-9 MAX, which recently were recertified to fly by the Federal Aviation Administration after being grounded for nearly two years for safety concerns.
"We’re very, very confident that the airplane is safe," Minicucci said.
All Boeing's MAX planes were grounded worldwide after two crashes killed 346 people. Following a lengthy review of Boeing changes, the FAA last month approved the plane to fly again if airlines update a key flight-control system and make other changes.
"A lot of work has gone into recertifying this airplane. The issues the airplane had on those tragic accidents has been addressed," Minicucci said.
"We followed all of the engineering fixes that went into the MAX, we were very close to it. Boeing, the FAA, were very transparent with all of the changes. We were part of the process, and at the end of the day we were very comfortable with the engineering fixes that were implemented on the MAX," he said.
Minicucci said if customers are not comfortable flying on the MAX, the airline will work to rebook them on flights not using the aircraft type.
"We will provide them all the information they need so they can get comfortable, but we will gladly re-accommodate those customers," he said.
Alaska Airlines created a website for travelers, answering questions about the MAX and explaining the testing and training that goes into getting the aircraft ready for service.
"We will be the first to be on board. We are really excited about it and it’s going to be a great airplane," Minicucci said.
Alaska is currently training pilots on the MAX using computers and simulators, Minicucci said.