Alaska Airlines to add four Boeing freighters, doubling cargo fleet

Alaska Airlines, Inc. announced it is entering into long-term lease agreements to add four Boeing 737-800 Converted Freighter (BCF) aircraft to its dedicated cargo fleet, expanding the total from five to nine aircraft. The carrier is a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK).

The four additional aircraft are expected to enter service in the first half of 2027 and will be dedicated to service in the states of Alaska and Hawaii. Planes based in Hawaii are planned to be painted in Hawaiian Air Cargo livery.

According to the company, the expansion will effectively double the capacity of its freighter fleet. The additional aircraft are intended to serve communities across Alaska and Hawaii and connect them to the contiguous U.S. and the airline's broader global cargo network.

"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," said Ian Morgan, Vice President of Cargo at Alaska Airlines.

The company said cargo growth is part of its Alaska Accelerate strategic plan, which targets $150 million in new annual profit through integrating Alaska and Hawaiian cargo operations and expanding internationally out of Seattle.

Alaska Air Cargo claims to be the only legacy passenger airline in the U.S. operating a dedicated cargo fleet, carrying more than 370 million pounds of cargo annually to more than 100 destinations across North America, Europe, Asia, and the Pacific.

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