Alaska Airlines Takes Delivery of New Boeing 737-800 With Winglets - First of Three New Aircraft in '05
03 Febbraio 2005 - 6:00PM
PR Newswire (US)
Alaska Airlines Takes Delivery of New Boeing 737-800 With Winglets
- First of Three New Aircraft in '05 SEATTLE, Feb. 3 /PRNewswire/
-- Alaska Airlines' newest airplane -- a 737-800 -- rolled out of
the hangar at Boeing Field today ready to stretch its wings on the
airline's growing transcontinental routes. The 737-800 is among
Boeing's "Next Generation" aircraft, employing the latest in flight
deck technology, fuel efficiency and passenger comfort.
Additionally, Alaska equipped the plane with performance-enhancing
winglets, which cut down on fuel consumption, extend the aircraft's
range and reduce noise during takeoff and landing. "The 737-800
gives us the optimum blend of range and fuel economy," said Gregg
Saretsky, Alaska's executive vice president of marketing and
planning. "It's also well-suited for our long-haul flights because
of its larger seating capacity and comfortable cabin." Saretsky
noted that winglets will reduce the aircraft's fuel consumption by
3 to 4 percent, saving the company about 110,000 gallons of fuel a
year per aircraft. "Boeing is pleased to contribute to the success
of our hometown partner, Alaska Airlines," said Carolyn Corvi,
737/757 vice president and general manager, Boeing Commercial
Airplanes. "The 737-800 complements Alaska's existing fleet of
737-700s and 737-900s, and has the same great passenger appeal of
the other models. The strength of the 737 airplane family is the
fact that it is one airplane in four sizes. This gives Alaska the
flexibility to match capacity with customer demand on individual
routes." The aircraft has 160 seats, including 16 in first class.
It is outfitted with all-leather seats, larger overhead bins and
four center-aisle, pull-down stowage units. The third 737-800 to be
delivered to Alaska Airlines, and all subsequent deliveries, also
will have new generation "Spectrum" seats complete with adjustable
headrests, improved lumbar support and engineering that provides
more passenger room. To celebrate, today's maiden flight featured
an on-board wedding of two Alaska Airlines employees. The newlyweds
-- and the new airplane -- were feted by employee well-wishers at
the airline's hangar at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
following the delivery flight. Deliveries of two additional
737-800s are scheduled for later this year. Alaska's last new
aircraft delivery was in February 2004, when it added the last in
an order of 12 new Boeing 737-900s to its fleet. Alaska's fleet
currently includes 108 aircraft -- 40 737-400s, 26 MD-80s, 22
737-700s, 12 737-900s and eight 737-200Cs. The new 737-800, which
will go into service Feb. 6, brings that total to 109. Alaska and
its sister carrier, Horizon Air, together serve more than 80 cities
in Alaska, the Lower 48, Canada and Mexico. For reservations visit
http://www.alaskaair.com/. For more news and information, visit the
Alaska Airlines Newsroom on the Internet at
http://newsroom.alaskaair.com/ . DATASOURCE: Alaska Airlines
CONTACT: Caroline Boren, +1-206-392-5799, or Sam Sperry,
+1-206-392-5038, both for Alaska Airlines Web site:
http://www.alaskaair.com/
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