Alaska Air Cargo Converts Two Freighters

Alaska Air Cargo selected Boeing to provide the conversion work for two 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighters (BCF), growing the dedicated freighter fleet serving its namesake state from three jets to five. 

More Load Space

“Fleet expansion positions our growing cargo business to meet increased demand that we see from industry and consumers,” says Adam Drouhard, managing director for Alaska Air Cargo. “The 737-800 aircraft provides 40 percent more load space than our current 737-700 freighters, essentially doubling Air Cargo’s total freighter lift capacity. We look forward to getting these 737-800s into service to support Alaska’s supply chain and connect cargo to over 100 cities we serve across North America.”

The 737-800 carries a payload of nearly 50,000 pounds. With a range of 2,800 nautical miles, the 737-800 will be the most fuel-efficient aircraft to serve intra-Alaska.

“Alaskans have always relied on Alaska Air Cargo to provide time-sensitive services to their communities,” says Marilyn Romano, regional vice president of Alaska Airlines. “Whether it is vaccines, medicine, household supplies, or fresh food, our freighters keep rural Alaska supplied and connected. With service to twenty communities across Alaska, and only three accessible by road, adding new aircraft to the current freighter fleet allows expansion of our vital services to all Alaskans. The additional freighter capacity also allows us to quickly move seafood and other commodities from Alaska to points throughout the United States.”