Alaska Airlines Will Retire Boeing 737-700 Fleet by 2027
The airline plans to replace its aging smaller aircraft with larger models to boost capacity.
Updated on Oct. 11, 2026 in Air Travel
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Alaska Airlines will retire its fleet of Boeing 737-700 passenger aircraft by 2027. The airline will transition to larger Boeing 737-800 models to serve its regional network.
Why it matters
The change addresses the need for greater passenger and cargo capacity in regions that rely on air transport due to a lack of road infrastructure. The transition will also bring updated amenities, including faster on-board internet.
The Boeing 737-800 offers 37 additional seats and approximately 50% more lower-deck cargo space per flight than the 737-700. The new aircraft are also 19 feet and 2 inches longer than the units they will replace.
The players
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines is a major American carrier that serves as the primary air transport provider for many remote communities across the state of Alaska.
Boeing
Boeing is a global aerospace manufacturer that produces the 737 series of aircraft utilized for commercial passenger and cargo operations.
The details
By swapping to the larger Boeing 737-800, which has an average age of 18.5 years compared to the 26.3-year average of the current fleet, Alaska Airlines aims to improve efficiency. These aircraft are critical for connecting routes that depend on air travel for essential goods and passengers.
Timeline
The retirement of the Boeing 737-700 fleet will be completed by 2027.
Travel Outlook
This transition reflects a broader shift toward optimizing regional aviation fleets for higher volume and modern connectivity requirements. The move aligns with industry trends to replace aging narrow-body aircraft with larger, more efficient versions of existing platforms.
Travelers should expect increased availability on regional routes due to the added seat capacity of the newer aircraft. Those flying to and from remote areas will benefit from improved on-board internet speeds as the transition progresses.
The takeaway
The move to larger aircraft ensures that essential air services remain sustainable for residents in areas without ground transit options. Passengers can anticipate a more modernized experience on these critical regional lifelines.
Further reading
For more information on regional flight operations, visit Air Travel.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Simple Flying.
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