Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines bets on recovery with 737 MAX buy

An Alaska Air 737 MAX landing, view from below.

Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK) will add 30 mainline and regional aircraft during the next three years, including 13 Boeing 737 MAX jets, the company said Wednesday in a show of confidence about prospects for a domestic travel recovery.

The parent company of Alaska Airlines said it expects its domestic passenger business to return to pre-COVID levels by the summer of 2022, which will require more aircraft.

Alaska is exercising options for the 13 Boeing 737-9 MAX for delivery in 2023 and 2024, and is...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/alaska-airlines-bets-on-recovery-with-737-max-buy

Strong balance sheet, fed bailout put Alaska Airlines on recovery path

A white 737 MAX with Native Alaskan logo on tail sits in front of a hanger on wet pavement. Ground view from the side.

Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK) executives are optimistic about the summer flying season once COVID-19 vaccinations become more widespread. During Tuesday’s earnings call they said the carrier is well positioned to capitalize on economic recovery because of a well-managed balance sheet, aggressive cost cutting and generous federal support.

The Seattle-based company reported a fourth-quarter adjusted net loss of $316 million or minus $2.55 per diluted share. For the year, Alaska Air lost $1.3...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/strong-balance-sheet-fed-bailout-put-alaska-airlines-on-recovery-path

Alaska Air warns of increased cash burn in January

A white Alaska Airlines jet banks to the left during its climb into a blue sky, view from behind.

The jump in passenger traffic for U.S. airlines during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays was a mirage, not a sustainable source of revenue for overcoming the coronavirus crisis. On Thursday, Alaska Airlines said passenger volume and revenue since October has retreated again and Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) sounded less optimistic about the next few months.

Ahead of a Jan. 26 earnings release, Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK) indicated that it will drain its pool of cash at a faster rate in the...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/alaska-air-warns-of-increased-cash-burn-during-january

Alaska Airlines modernizes fleet with deal for more 737 MAX jets

A white Alaska Airlines jet coming in for a landing with wheels down, about to touch down on runway on sunny day.

Alaska Airlines (NYSE: ALK) on Monday doubled down on the Boeing 737 MAX less than a week after the Federal Aviation Administration lifted a 20-month safety grounding. The airline plans to lease more than a dozen of the modern aircraft and sell off less economical Airbus A320s to help its balance sheet.

The moves suggest that Alaska Airlines may return to an all-Boeing fleet, although officials have said they are very happy with the Airbus A321neo.

Alaska said it will sell 10 single-aisle A320s...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/alaska-airlines-modernizes-fleet-with-deal-for-more-737-max-jets

Seat bags help Alaska Airlines carry more cabin cargo

Workers in yellow vests strap yellow bags to passenger seats to hold packages instead of people. This is an Alaska Airlines flight.

Alaska Airlines (NYSE: ALK) is the first carrier in North America to use special bags from maintenance service provider Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Co. (HAECO) to hold packages on passenger seats, enabling aircraft in cargo-only mode to carry more freight each flight.

The in-seat package stowage system was installed on a Boeing 737-900 to carry goods such as mail, medical equipment, packages and other freight, Alaska Airlines said in a news release Wednesday.

The passenger-freighter, which...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/seat-bags-help-alaska-airlines-carry-more-cabin-cargo

Alaska Air takes $399 million Q3 loss, but reduces cash burn

A white jet with blue tail and native Alaskan painted on tail, on ascent through the sky.

Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK) on Thursday reported a wider than expected adjusted net loss of $399 million in the third quarter versus 2019, with total revenue falling 71% to $701 million.

The adjusted net loss was $40 million lower than for the second quarter. Cargo and miscellaneous revenue was 25% lower at $45 million. 

Alaska lowered its daily cash burn in the quarter to $4 million per day from $5 million daily in the second quarter.  

The airline achieved an adjusted earnings per share of...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/alaska-air-takes-399-million-q3-loss-but-reduces-cash-burn

Wildfires force Alaska Airlines to suspend some Oregon, Washington flights

Wildfires in Oregon; Oregon DOT service vehicle in foreground.

Worsening smoke conditions prompted Alaska Airlines (NYSE: ALK to suspend all flights for 24 hours in Portland, Oregon, and Spokane, Washington, beginning at 3 p.m. on Monday.

Otherwise, airline and parcel delivery networks have experienced limited disruption from the devastating wildfires that have impacted millions of people on the West Coast, according to airports and carriers operating in the region.

“Across the West, fires are creating thick smoke and haze, causing very poor air quality...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/wildfires-force-alaska-airlines-to-suspend-some-oregon-washington-flights

Commentary: Keeping Alaska’s seafood supply chain intact

The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of FreightWaves or its affiliates. 

Why is gasoline more expensive in oil-rich Alaska than in most of the Lower 48? Because Alaska ships its crude oil out-of-state without refining it. Other states have large refineries possessing economies of scale that Alaska cannot match. A similar tale applies to Alaska seafood. Why does frozen Alaska salmon, destined for retail markets in the Lower 48,...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/commentary-keeping-alaskas-seafood-supply-chain-intact

Airlines restore some service, but finances remain grim

White and red plane banking to the right above the clouds.

U.S. and international airlines are gradually rebuilding their networks as travel demand perks up, but the latest financial results demonstrate the road to recovery from the pandemic will be long and difficult.

Carriers this week showed increasing optimism that passenger business is coming out of a three-month slumber by resuming more service in the summer compared to May, led by American Airlines (NASDAQ: AAL) announcing plans to operate its domestic schedule in July at 55% of its prior-year...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/airlines-restore-some-service-but-finances-remain-grim

Breaking: FAA approves cargo to ride in passenger seats

Cargo strapped in passenger seats.

U.S. airlines will soon fly temporary freighters with cargo, instead of passengers, in the seats.

Since domestic passenger carriers began operating some aircraft in cargo-only mode two months ago, they have been largely restricted to loading freight in the lower hold where baggage and shipments normally ride. On Thursday, the Federal Aviation Administration issued an exemption allowing airlines to carry cargo on seats.

Airlines had requested a two year break from existing regulations, but the FAA...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/breaking-faa-approves-cargo-to-ride-in-passenger-seats

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