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.
In presentations to Wall Street on Thursday at its annual investor day in New York, management 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 replacing smaller planes with larger jets. Alaska said it will accelerate by six months the retirement of its 150-seat Airbus A320ceos, replacing them with 178-seat Boeing 737 MAX 9s and MAX 10s that will have about 190 seats.
