SEATTLE — Despite recent schedule cuts as omicron cases surged and the soaring cost of jet fuel that’s raising airplane ticket prices, Alaska Air executives are touting optimistic plans for accelerated growth as the airline industry emerges from pandemic travel restrictions.
Describing the themes management will present Thursday at its annual investor day presentation in New York, the company said the goal is to expand the fleet from 300 to 400 airplanes by 2025 and increase annual revenue by $400 million within the next five years.
Part of that revenue bump will come from adding seats, not only by bringing in 100 new airplanes but by making those larger jets than the ones they will replace. Alaska said it will accelerate by six months the retirement of its 150-seat Airbus A320neos, replacing them with 178-seat Boeing 737 MAX 9s and MAX 10s that will have about 190 seats.
Shane Tackett, Alaska’s chief financial officer, said the Airbus A320neos will be gone by the first quarter of next year.