Alaska Air Cargo 737-800BCF. Photo: Ingrid Barrentine/ Alaska Airlines
Alaska Air Cargo is planning to launch freighter flights to Los Angeles – the first time the airline’s cargo aircraft will fly further south than Seattle.
The carrier said that the new route would be launched in the spring and is made possible by the arrival of two converted Boeing 737-800 freighters.
The first of the aircraft is already in operation and the second is due to start flights soon.
They can carry around 4.5 kg more cargo than the airline’s existing three Boeing 737-700 freighters.
Many of the groceries, household goods and essential medicine shipping into the state of Alaska come from Southern California and this new freighter route will streamline that supply chain, said Adam Drouhard, managing director for Alaska Air Cargo.
The carrier also pointed out that both freighters would be in service in time for the height of the salmon fishing season, allowing fresh sustainable sockeye from Bristol Bay and other fisheries to reach markets more quickly.
“We are excited to build on our long history serving the state of Alaska and forge new connections between communities there and cities across the US,” Drouhard said.
More freighters in the schedule serving the state of Alaska will also improve the reliability of that service.
“Our markets in the state will get more dedicated service that’s not shared,” he said. “We’ll be able to spread that schedule across more aircraft.”
Bethel (BET), Juneau (JNU) and Sitka (SIT) will be among the first communities to benefit from the bigger freighters and more frequent service.
“The aircraft’s expanded range also will allow the cargo team to explore other new routes, such as a possible nonstop from King Salmon (AKN) to Seattle (SEA),” the carrier added.
Alaska Air Cargo begins operating first 737-800BCF
