Even before it has received its first Boeing 737 Max jet, Alaska Airlines is leasing 13 more.
It is the first airline to commit to more Max planes since the Federal Aviation Administration cleared the jet to return to service after a long period of grounding.
To fund it, Alaska is selling 10 of its Airbus A320 planes to Air Lease Corporation, which is the same lessor supplying the 13 737 Max 9 planes.
The airline touts the Max aircraft model as more fuel-efficient and carbon-friendly.
"We found an opportunity to sell 10 planes that are not in our long-term plans and replace them with 13 of the most efficient narrow-body aircraft available," said Alaska Air Group CEO Brad Tilden.
With the addition of the leased jets, Alaska will operate a fleet of 32 Max aircraft when it receives the planes it already has on order from Boeing.
Boeing 737 Max planes were grounded back in March 2019 following two fatal crashes which killed more than 300 people.
Following the FAA clearance, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency this week outlined steps required to return the Boeing Max to service in Europe, which is expected some time in early 2021.
Written by Ray Montgomery, US Editor
