Boeing landed Alaska Airlines’ largest aircraft order ever, a sweeping deal that signals renewed confidence in the US plane maker despite last year’s safety crisis and ongoing certification hurdles.
The order includes five wide-body 787 Dreamliners for long-haul international routes and 105 Boeing 737-10 aircraft, the largest variant of the 737 MAX family that is still awaiting certification from American regulators. Deliveries are scheduled through 2035 and will both replace aging jets and fuel Alaskan Airlines’ international expansion.
The agreement also gives Alaska Airlines options for 35 additional 737-10s within the same delivery window. If fully exercised, Alaska’s fleet would expand to about 550 aircraft by 2035, up from 413 currently.
Market observers see the deal as a notable vote of confidence in Boeing. Alaska Airlines was operating the 737 MAX 9 aircraft involved in the January 2024 mid-air door plug blowout, an incident traced to missing bolts that triggered federal investigations, production slowdowns, and a leadership shakeup at Boeing.
Alaska expects the Federal Aviation Administration to certify the 737-10 this year, with initial deliveries starting in 2027. The narrow-body jets will serve high-density domestic routes, while the 787 Dreamliners will support long-haul flights to Europe and Asia.
“This is a historic airplane order built on Alaska Airlines’ strong performance and disciplined growth strategy,” said Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “We are honored that Alaska has placed its trust in our people and in the 737 and 787 to support the next phase of their airline’s growth.”
Still, the market response was muted. Boeing shares ended Wednesday nearly 1 percent lower, underscoring lingering investor caution as the company works to restore credibility with regulators, airlines, and shareholders.
For Boeing, the Alaska deal strengthens its commercial backlog—and reinforces the message that major customers remain committed, even as scrutiny remains intense.
