Alaska to Phase out MD-80s

[tonyw]

http://www.atwonline.com/news/story.html?storyID=4341

Alaska Airlines will transition to an all-737 fleet by the end of 2008 by accelerating the retirement of the 26 MD-80s it planned to phase out over the next 11 years, replacing them with 39 737-800s in 2006-08 from an order placed last summer. In addition, the carrier has firm commitments for 13 737-800s, options for 24 and purchase rights for 27 in 2009 and beyond. It also is retiring its seven 737-200s by mid-2007 as well as two 737-700s that will be returned to lessors. The changes will result in a 114-aircraft fleet in December 2008 versus 110 today. The increased efficiency of the winglet-equipped dash 800s means, however, that it will grow ASMs 6% with a net gain of just four aircraft.

 

[derg]

I wonder if they're going to run the -700's in the 'combi' configuration. A lot of the places that our cruise ship stopped, we'd see an Alaska Airlines 737-200 'combi' zip past towards a short runway.

 

[ASpilot2be]

To bring up an old topic:
Alaska is converting some -400s into combis, and one into an all cargo version.

 

[HorizonCRJ]

Maybe Southwest is onto something.