Alaska Airlines orders 10 additional Boeing 737-900 ERs, launches a “Test Drive a 737” contest, will retire its last Boeing 737-400 by the end of 2017

Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma) has announced the purchase of 10 additional Boeing 737-900 ER aircraft. The company is celebrating the significance of this order by launching a contest to ‘test-drive’ one of Alaska’s 737 flight simulators at its Seattle flight operations center.

Today’s purchase, which brings Alaska’s total Boeing jets on order to 74, means customers will enjoy expanded service from Alaska’s Seattle hub and a commitment to a locally-manufactured fleet.

These new planes will not only allow for network growth, but also further enhance the company’s already industry-leading fuel efficiency by replacing less efficient 737-400 aircraft with new 737-900ER, capable of carrying 25 percent more passengers while using the same amount of fuel.

Alaska Airlines is the most fuel efficient U.S. carrier for the last three years, according to The International Council on Clean Transportation. The 737-900 ERs, along with other efficiency measures, will help Alaska further its lead by improving mileage from 66 seat MPG in 2006 to 84 seat MPG in 2017.

Plane facts:

Alaska is in the process of transitioning out of its 737-400s, which will be finished by the end of 2017.

Alaska was the first airline in the world to order both the MAX-8 and MAX-9 and will take delivery of the aircraft starting in 2017.

By 2017 Alaska’s fleet will be nearly 30 percent larger than it was in 2010.

Alaska offers 273 peak-day departures to 79 destinations from Seattle/Tacoma, more than three times that of any other airline.

Alaska launches Seattle-area scavenger hunt

Beginning at 6 a.m. this Friday, October 10, Washington state residents will have the chance to find one of five sets of keys to test drive a Boeing 737. Follow Alaska Airlines’ “Keys to the Sky” scavenger hunt on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter for clues leading to five Seattle-area locations. The first person to arrive at each location and reference the hashtag #SeattlesAirline will win a grand prize, which includes two round-trip tickets anywhere Alaska flies from Seattle/Tacoma and keys to one of the company’s flight simulators, good for a ride with an Alaska instructor pilot. The runner up at each location will be invited to take a ride on a delivery flight aboard one of Alaska’s new Boeing 737-900 ERs next year.

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Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-990 ER N419AS (msn 41734) taxies to the runway at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) hub.

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