en.Wedoany.com Reported - Alaska Airlines has announced that it will sign long-term lease agreements to add four Boeing 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighters (BCF) to its dedicated cargo fleet, expanding the airline's 737 freighter fleet from five to nine aircraft.

The addition of four cargo aircraft will double Alaska Airlines' cargo fleet capacity, enhance cargo service reliability for the communities it serves, and provide greater aircraft deployment flexibility within the airline's cargo network.

These cargo aircraft are expected to enter service in the first half of 2027, dedicated to routes in Alaska and Hawaii. Among them, the cargo aircraft in Hawaii will be painted in Hawaiian Air Cargo livery.

The new cargo aircraft will strengthen connections between communities in Alaska and Hawaii and the U.S. mainland, integrating these regions into Alaska's broader global cargo network. The additional capacity in Hawaii is expected to benefit the e-commerce and logistics industries by improving the reliability of cargo transportation for businesses.

Ian Morgan, Vice President of Cargo at Alaska Airlines, stated that the cargo business has two important goals: supporting communities and customers, and connecting them to the world. Expanding the cargo fleet with dedicated aircraft helps achieve these goals, opening new international transportation opportunities for seafood and other goods, while ensuring reliable transport of time-sensitive cargo needed by communities, such as pharmaceuticals, household goods, and groceries.

Jayson Watts, Chairman of the Hawaii Agricultural Development Corporation and a member of the Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines Hawaii Community Advisory Board, believes that transportation is one of the biggest challenges facing Hawaii's agriculture. Having more dedicated cargo capacity provides local farmers and ranchers with another reliable and stable way to transport their products, which is a positive development for local agriculture and communities, and a key step in building a stronger, more resilient food system.

The growth of Alaska Airlines' cargo business demonstrates its importance to a diversified revenue base. As part of the Alaska Accelerate strategic plan, with the integration of cargo operations in Alaska and Hawaii and international expansion from Seattle, the cargo business is expected to generate $150 million in new profits annually.

As the only traditional passenger airline with a dedicated cargo fleet, Alaska Airlines Cargo transports over 370 million pounds of cargo annually to more than 100 destinations across North America, Europe, Asia, and the Pacific. The addition of four 737-800 freighters represents the company's continued investment in fast and reliable transportation, laying the foundation for future growth of the cargo business.