Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.-based Alaska Airlines announced it entered into long-term lease agreements to add four additional 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter aircraft to its existing cargo fleet of five, increasing its fleet to nine total.
"Alaska Air Cargo has two very important goals: supporting our communities and customers and connecting them to the world," Alaska Airlines Vice President of Cargo Ian Morgan said in a company release. "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."
Alaska Airlines added that the additional capacity will provide communities increased reliability for goods such as seafood while expanding the carrier's international shipping opportunities. The four additional carriers double the airline's capacity and are expected to start operating in the first half of 2027. Alaska Airlines said the four new carriers are dedicated to Alaska and Hawai'i.
"Transportation has always been one of the biggest challenges for agriculture in Hawaiʻi," Chair of the Hawaiʻi Agribusiness Development Corporation and a member of the Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines Hawaiʻi Community Advisory Board Jayson Watts said. "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 four new cargo plans are expected to contribute USD 150 million (EUR 131.8 million) additional in annual profit with the international exportation out of Seattle. Additionally, the company said it's the only legacy passenger airline with a dedicated cargo fleet and carries more than 370 million pounds of cargo a year to more than 100 destinations across North America, Europe, Asia, and the Pacific.
"These additional freighters help strengthen the network that connects communities across the states of Alaska and Hawai'i to the contiguous U.S., and links them into Alaska's broader global cargo network," Alaska Airlines said. "Added capacity in Hawai'i is also expected to benefit e-commerce and logistics industries by giving businesses increased reliability in moving goods."
