Alaska Airlines to grow freighter fleet to nine Boeing 737-800BCFs
Alaska Airlines will expand its dedicated cargo fleet from five to nine Boeing 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF) aircraft after signing long-term lease agreements for four additional freighters.
The aircraft are expected to enter service during the first half of 2027 and will be dedicated to operations in Alaska and Hawaii, with those based in Hawaii planned to operate in Hawaiian Air Cargo livery.
The expansion is intended to improve reliability for cargo customers, increase flexibility across the airline’s network and provide additional capacity for communities throughout Alaska and Hawaii.
The extra freighters will strengthen connections between the two states, the contiguous US and Alaska Airlines’ wider global cargo network. Increased capacity in Hawaii is also expected to support growing e-commerce and logistics demand by providing more dependable freight services.
Ian Morgan, vice president of cargo at Alaska Airlines, said: “Alaska Air Cargo has two very important goals: supporting our communities and customers and connecting them to the world. Expanding our cargo fleet with dedicated aircraft helps us accomplish both goals, opening up new international shipping opportunities for seafood and other commodities, while making sure we can reliably ship time-sensitive goods that our communities need, such as medicine, household supplies and groceries.”
Jayson Watts, chair of the Hawaii Agribusiness Development Corporation and member of the Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines community advisory board, added: “Transportation has always been one of the biggest challenges for agriculture in Hawaii. Having more dedicated cargo capacity gives our farmers and ranchers another reliable, consistent way to get fresh products to market. That’s a win for local agriculture, a win for our communities, and a critical step toward building a stronger, more resilient food system.”
The fleet expansion forms part of Alaska Airlines’ Alaska Accelerate strategic plan, under which cargo is expected to generate an additional $150 million in annual profit as the airline integrates the cargo operations of Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines while expanding international services from Seattle.
Alaska Air Cargo is the only legacy passenger airline in North America to operate a dedicated cargo fleet. The carrier transports more than 370 million pounds of cargo annually to more than 100 destinations across North America, Europe, Asia and the Pacific.
The four additional 737-800BCFs represent a continued investment in dedicated cargo operations as the airline seeks to support long-term growth while improving service reliability across its network.