Alaska Airlines Faces Setback with Boeing 737 MAX and 787 Delivery Delays
Boeing has notified Alaska Airlines Group (AS) about extended delivery timelines for both the 787-9 Dreamliner widebody jets and 737 MAX aircraft, impacting the carrier’s fleet growth strategy. Despite receiving its first 787-9 delivery over a year ago, Hawaiian Airlines (HA) now under Alaska Air Group’s ownership, only operates two 787-9 aircraft, with remaining order book showing ten unfilled 787 positions as of December 31, 2024. Boeing’s notice of delivery delays beyond contracted schedules for both aircraft types was highlighted in a recent SEC filing flagged by Flight Global.
Hawaiian Airlines received its initial 787-9 delivery in February 2023, with original projections expecting deliveries to continue through 2027. However, Boeing’s revised schedule now extends the delivery timeline to 2029 due to ongoing production challenges faced by the manufacturer. This delay impacts Hawaiian Airlines’ fleet modernization plans under Alaska Air Group’s management as the Seattle-based parent company navigates Boeing’s manufacturing constraints. The delayed deliveries affect both Hawaiian’s widebody expansion strategy and its optimization of route networks with more fuel-efficient aircraft.
The delivery adjustments follow suit with Boeing’s broader production challenges, necessitating the revision of delivery schedules across various airline customers. Hawaiian Airlines, operating just two 787s instead of an anticipated fleet expansion, faces capacity planning uncertainties as production delays persist. Alaska Airlines, on the other hand, grapples with extensive modifications to its Boeing aircraft delivery schedule, pushing 787 deliveries through 2029. Multiple 787-9 deliveries initially planned for 2024-2026 have been rescheduled for later contract periods or subsequent years.
Furthermore, Alaska Airlines’ 737 fleet plans are also impacted by delivery disruptions, with 2024 737 Max 9 deliveries pushed to 2025, and six 737 Max 8 aircraft scheduled for 2025 now deferred to 2026. Moreover, Alaska Airlines’ plans for acquiring the 737 Max 10 have been adjusted, with three aircraft slated for 2026 and seventeen for 2027, pending type certification. These delays are attributed to Boeing’s ongoing production constraints and the repercussions of an eight-week machinists’ union strike in 2023. Alaska Airlines warns that these challenges could jeopardize its fleet growth targets and financial performance.
Under Alaska Air Group’s management, Hawaiian Airlines sustains its cargo expansion with Amazon Prime, operating six Airbus A330 Freighters with four more expected by December 2025. These delivery adjustments compel Alaska Air Group to reassess its capacity growth strategies across passenger and cargo operations. Amid the changes, both airlines continue to contribute to network diversity, with Alaska Airlines maintaining an extensive domestic presence across the US and a growing international footprint, while Hawaiian Airlines focuses on connecting Hawaii to the mainland United States with its international routes spanning the Pacific region.
