Alaska Airlines is eager to start receiving deliveries of the larger Boeing 737 MAX 10, which can carry more passengers. However, the plane is not yet certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Boeing must first win approval for its smaller MAX 7 before it can get approval for the MAX 10.
Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci said that the company prefers the MAX 10 because it can carry 11 more passengers than the MAX 9. This means that Alaska Airlines can essentially transport the same number of passengers for less money.
In October 2022, Alaska Airlines said that it was exercising options to purchase 52 MAX aircraft for delivery between 2024 and 2027. The company also secured rights for 105 more planes through 2030. Minicucci said that Alaska Airlines is anxious for the MAX 10 to be certified. However, he stressed that the plane must be safe before it can be put into service.
Boeing said on May 31 that certification of the MAX 7 is taking a "considerable amount of time" due to new documentation requirements. However, the planemaker still believes that it can be approved by the end of the year. The MAX 7 and MAX 10 are seen as critical for Boeing to compete against Airbus for orders at the smaller and larger ends of the narrowbody market. Minicucci said that Alaska Airlines has a good relationship with Boeing. The company has been transparent about supply chain issues and has kept Alaska Airlines updated on the progress of the MAX 10 certification process.