Alaska Airlines Group Inc. ALK, +0.44% said Wednesday that it is buying 52 Boeing 737 MAX jets through the exercising of options, representing the air carrier’s largest commitment for future aircraft in its history. Financial terms of the order were not disclosed. The purchases, which are for delivery between 2024 and 2027, will increase Alaska Air’s 737 MAX fleet to 146 jets. Alaska Air said it currently operates a fleet of 35 737-9 aircraft, and expects to accept delivery of another 43 MAX aircraft between now and the end of 2023. “This investment secures aircraft to optimize our growth through the next decade, which we know will be a formidable competitive advantage,” said Alaska Air Chief Executive Ben Minicucci. Shares of Boeing, which reported earlier a wider-than-expected third-quarter loss, fell 0.3% in premarket trading, while Alaska Air’s stock tacked on 0.1%. Meanwhile, futures ES00, -0.87% for the S&P 500 SPX, -0.64% dropped 0.7% ahead of the open.
