Alaska Air Cargo doubles freighter fleet capacity

Alaska Airlines has entered long-term lease agreements for four additional 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF) aircraft, doubling the capacity of its dedicated cargo fleet and expanding it from five to nine planes. The freighters are expected to enter service in the first half of 2027 and will be dedicated to Alaska and Hawai'i, with Hawai'i-based aircraft painted in Hawaiian Air Cargo livery. Hawaiian-branded Boeing 737-800s will replace Hawaiian's retiring 717 fleet on Neighbor Island service, as part of a phased transition.

The expansion strengthens the carrier's network connecting Alaska and Hawai'i to the contiguous U.S. and Alaska's wider global cargo operations, while adding flexibility in aircraft allocation across the network. Added capacity in Hawai'i is expected to benefit the state's e-commerce and logistics sectors.

"The four additional freighters will effectively double the capacity of our freighter fleet, while injecting more reliability into cargo service for communities we serve and providing more flexibility in aircraft allocation across the airline's cargo network," said Ian Morgan, Vice President of Cargo, Alaska Airlines. Morgan said the expansion opens new international shipping opportunities for seafood and other commodities, while ensuring reliable movement of time-sensitive goods such as medicine, household supplies and groceries.

"Transportation has always been one of the biggest challenges for agriculture in Hawaiʻi," said Jayson Watts, Chair of the Hawaiʻi Agribusiness Development Corporation and member of the Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines Hawaiʻi Community Advisory Board. Watts said dedicated cargo capacity gives farmers and ranchers a reliable way to get fresh products to market, calling it a win for local agriculture and communities, and a step toward a stronger, more resilient food system.

The growth supports Alaska Air Cargo's role in diversifying Alaska Air Group's revenue base. As part of the Alaska Accelerate strategic plan, cargo is expected to deliver $150 million in new annual profit as the carrier integrates Alaska and Hawaiian's cargo operations and expands internationally out of Seattle.

Alaska Air Cargo is the only legacy US passenger airline with a dedicated freighter fleet, carrying more than 370 million pounds (about 167,000 metric tonnes) of cargo annually to over 100 destinations across North America, Europe, Asia and the Pacific. Alaska and Hawaiian Air Cargo together serve 110-plus destinations with more than 1,300 daily flights, and the freighter fleet serves 19 communities across Alaska. The division also offers belly-cargo capacity on more than 400 passenger aircraft, including B787 and A330 widebodies. Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group.