• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Ask Scott
Travel Codex

Travel Codex

Your Resource for Better Travel

  • Subscribe
  • Credit Cards
  • Reviews
  • Guides & Tips
  • Award Travel

Alaska Airlines to Fly More Cargo Using Passenger Aircraft

by Steve Case
Last updated July 2, 2020

Since passenger demand has fallen off a cliff for the airline industry, it is time to get creative.  That is exactly what Alaska Airlines is doing by flying more air freight using passenger aircraft.

a group of people in a plane
Alaska Air Cargo tests loading freight into the passenger cabin of an Alaska Airlines 737-900 in Seattle. Alaska will be utilizing passenger jets as freighter only aircraft to maximize critical cargo shipments of essential goods.  Photo credit: Alaska Airlines.

Right Now, Cargo Is King

Most airlines have an air freight division to supplement their passenger revenues.  Alaska Airlines is unique because they took three Boeing 737-700 aircraft from passenger service and had them converted to dedicated freighters.  These conversions included installing a stronger floor with tie-downs for rolling airfreight containers and adding a freight door aft of the forward boarding door.  The aircraft was converted over 19 months in Tel Aviv by Israel Aerospace Industries.

a group of people standing next to an airplane
Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 freighter conversion.  Photo credit: Alaska Airlines.

Alaska Air Cargo Begins Testing “Critical Cargo” Flights

Alaska will use freight-only flights using passenger aircraft to haul priority cargo along its route structure to supplement their dedicated freighter aircraft.  These priority shipments would include:

  • Mail,
  • Medical Equipment,
  • E-commerce packages and
  • Food.
a plane with a man on the tail
Alaska Air Cargo tests loading freight into the passenger cabin of an Alaska Airlines 737-900 in Seattle. Alaska will be utilizing passenger jets as freighter only aircraft to maximize critical cargo shipments of essential goods.  Photo credit: Alaska Airlines.

“We’re determined to help protect the resiliency of our nation’s supply chain by connecting critical cargo to the communities we serve during this public health crisis,” said Torque Zubeck, managing director of Alaska Air Cargo.  “Our teams have been working tirelessly since March to identify the safest and most effective processes to increase our cargo capacity as quickly as possible.”

Huge Sale: Lindblad Expeditions Galápagos Cruise From $5,000
Trending
Huge Sale: Lindblad Expeditions Galápagos Cruise From $5,000

a man loading packages on a plane
Alaska Air Cargo tests loading freight into the passenger cabin of an Alaska Airlines 737-900 in Seattle. Photo credit: Alaska Airlines.

The test will involve flying six 737-900 passenger aircraft for all freight flights.  In addition to cargo flying in the baggage bays, Alaska will place boxes, mail and other items on and under the passenger seats, in overhead bins and closets.  The airline estimates that it can fly an additional 13,500 pounds in the passenger cabin bringing the total 737-900 air freight capacity to 30,000 pounds.  One issue that I see is that the airline will have to demonstrate to the FAA that the seated cargo can remain in place without shifting during flight.  When weight shifts in an airplane, it changes the center of balance which will make the pitch control (up and down aircraft direction) difficult.

a group of seats on an airplane
Alaska Air Cargo tests loading freight into the passenger cabin of an Alaska Airlines 737-900 in Seattle. Alaska will be utilizing passenger jets as freighter only aircraft to maximize critical cargo shipments of essential goods.  Photo credit: Alaska Airlines.

If the passenger-only aircraft testing proves successful to the FAA, Alaska would begin these cargo flights in May.  

Alaska Airlines Cargo Fun Facts

Flying cargo is nothing new for Alaska Airlines.  They basically got their start back in 1932 when Linious McGee started bush flying in Alaska using Stinson aircraft.  The early days saw these aircraft flying passengers, furs and food to and from remote locations in Alaska. Two years later, McGee merged with Star Air Service to become Alaska Star.  That is why the airline code for Alaska Airlines is “AS”.

a group of dogs sitting in the snow next to a plane
McGee Airways Stinson airplane. Photo credit: Alaska Airlines.

Alaska Air Cargo Facts 

  • Cargo freighters: 3 Boeing 737-700s
  • Passenger-to-cargo planes: 6 Boeing 737-900s
  • Cargo flown annually: 200 million+ pounds
  • Seafood flown: 30 million+ pounds per year
  • Destinations in Alaska we serve: 19 stations, only three connected by road
  • Around 60% of our cargo business touches the state of Alaska in some way
  • Total destinations served in 2019: 100+
  • Freighter-only flights flown in 2019: 5,487

Final Thoughts

Passenger traffic has fallen off by an industry average of 90% due to social distancing and travel restrictions.  No one knows how long this will continue to go on.  Airlines are going to have to be more creative to keep aircraft from being parked.  Alaska Airlines is trying something new to keep an additional Boeing 737-900 aircraft in the skies.

  • 10shares
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Email

Read This Next

  • ski free
    Fly Alaska Airlines, Ski For Free
  • a train on a track with Duquesne Incline in the background
    Alaska Airlines Will Fly Seattle to Pittsburgh in September 2018
  • a close up of the tail of an airplane
    Fly Virgin America with the Alaska Airlines Companion Fare

About Steve Case

Steve is a life-long avgeek and a points and miles player. The photo is from my first premium, international award flight in 2012. That is all it took, I was hooked. I used my airline mile and hotel points to travel well and cheap. I am truly an "out-of-the-box" traveler which has enriched my travel experiences.

Primary Sidebar

Over 100K+ Followers

Subscribe to updates from Travel Codex

none

Learn to how to find the cheapest awards.

Search Now

none

Transfer points to get more value.

See Options

none

Compare credit cards to earn more miles.

Explore Offers

Contact

If you have a question or would like to make a press inquiry, please contact:

Scott Mackenzie
Editor in Chief
scott@travelcodex.com

For updates:
Subscribe to RSS
Subscribe to Apple News

Privacy Policy


© Travel Codex, LLC All Rights Reserved.


Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Travel Codex with appropriate and specific directions to the original content.