Alaska AIrlines Cargo To Bring Its New Boeing 737-800F Freighter South To Los Angeles

Republished By Plato

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Alaska Airlines Cargo is expanding its dedicated cargo fleet with the addition of two converted Boeing 737-800F freighters.

The airline will expand its dedicated freighter service south to Los Angeles from its Seattle/Tacoma (SEA) hub starting April according to FreightWaves.

Previously the airline made this announcement:

Alaska Air Cargo has added a new Boeing 737-800BCF to our dedicated cargo fleet, increasing the capacity and flexibility on our routes serving communities across the state of Alaska and connecting them to the lower 48. A second 737-800 freighter will join our existing lineup of three 737-700 freighters early next year, essentially doubling our current fleet’s payload capacity and laying the foundation for future growth.

Ketchikan (KTN), Sitka (SIT), Juneau (JNU) and Bethel (BET) will be among the first in Alaska to benefit from the increased capacity, with expanded freighter service coming to their communities by mid-December.

The new freighters are also in the process of becoming ETOPS-certified, which will enable them to fly long ranges over open water. The aircraft’s expanded range will allow the cargo team to explore new routes, such as a possible nonstop from King Salmon (AKN) to Seattle (SEA). 

“We are excited about the potential to create new connections between the 20 communities we serve in Alaska and the lower 48.” Adam Drouhard, Alaska Air Cargo managing director

The 737-800 freighter can carry more containers and 10,000 pounds more cargo than our 737-700 freighters.

Each 737-800 freighter can carry 10,000 pounds more than a 737-700. With a configuration that also holds more containers, our fleet will have 40% additional space for those holiday gifts flying to and from the North Pole — as well as for essential goods like groceries, medical supplies and building materials traveling to communities in Alaska. With both bigger freighters in service next year, we’ll also be able to transport more of the state’s abundant fresh seafood, including the hundreds of thousands of pounds of sustainable Bristol Bay sockeye salmon that we carry to the lower 48 at the height of summer. 

“With a fleet of five, we’ll have the flexibility and capacity to do even more drop-ins for fishing communities when the salmon are running,” said Shannon Stevens, Alaska Air Cargo sales manager for the state of Alaska. “We’ll be ready to fill those freighters full of fish!”

As the only domestic passenger airline with a dedicated cargo fleet, Alaska Air Cargo carries more than 200 million pounds of freight each year to more than 100 destinations across North America. The addition of the 737-800 freighters – converted from Alaska Airlines’ passenger aircraft by our partner Boeing – sets the stage for continued growth, Drouhard said.

Our first new 737-800BCF freighter went into service in November 2023, boosting capacity for the 20 communities we serve in the state of Alaska.

We are now flying twice a week from Anchorage (ANC) to Unalakleet (UNK), the one destination in our network that is served only by our cargo teams, without passenger service. Located on the Norton Sound 395 miles northwest of Anchorage, Unalakleet is known for its salmon and crab harvests.

Ketchikan (KTN), Sitka (SIT), Juneau (JNU) and Bethel (BET) will also start receiving increased freighter service this month. With a second converted 737-800 freighter poised to enter service next year, we’ve also improved infrastructure at stations across the state as part of our ongoing commitment to the communities we serve.

Alaska Air Cargo schedule February – April 2024