#boeing737

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Boeing 737-9 MAX Alaska Airlines

Registration: N913AK Type: 737-9 Engines: 2 × CFMI LEAP-1B Serial Number: 44079 First flight: Jun 26, 2019

Alaska Airlines — one of the major U.S. air carriers — has placed its bet on the Boeing 737 MAX series, with deliveries beginning in January 2021. As of today, the airline operates 94 aircraft of this series in both currently available variants: the MAX 8 and MAX 9, each serving its own role within the route network.

However, Alaska Airlines' relationship with the 737 MAX was overshadowed by a serious incident. On January 5, 2024, a door plug blew out mid-flight on board Flight 1282, at an altitude of approximately 5,000 meters. The aircraft made an emergency return to Portland; none of the 177 people on board were injured. An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board determined that the cause was four bolts that had not been installed during factory assembly. Responsibility was shared between Boeing, supplier Spirit AeroSystems, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Boeing paid the airline approximately $160 million in compensation.

Despite the incident, Alaska Airlines did not abandon the MAX series. In 2025, the airline signed the largest order in its history: 105 of the latest 737-10 aircraft, which are currently in the testing phase. In total, the order book stands at 174 aircraft from the 737 MAX family.

There has also been a thaw on the regulatory side: in October 2025, the FAA authorized Boeing to increase monthly production of the 737 MAX from 38 to 42 aircraft, confirming the manufacturer's progress in addressing identified deficiencies. Alaska Airlines, for its part, continues to invest in fleet modernization. The airline is putting $130 million into upgrading its existing 737-800s, bringing their interiors in line with the standards of the new MAX aircraft.

The Boeing 737 MAX series has become the backbone of Alaska Airlines' fleet. Despite the challenges, the airline continues to favor these aircraft, seeing them as the future of its route network — from Alaska to Latin America.

American Airlines

📍 Mildura to Sydney - Australia