The Boeing 737 MAX (including all variants) is one of the most widely utilized new-generation narrowbody aircraft worldwide.
Since its inception in 2011, the program has garnered over 6,000 orders, and close to 2,000 units have been successfully delivered to customers.In this article, we will explore United Airlines ‘ unique situation regarding its operations in Alaska, the 49th state of the US.
According to data from Cirium, the Chicago-based carrier schedules solely 737 MAX on its routes to destinations throughout the stateA look in more detail
So, which flights are operated by the MAX exactly according to Cirium? Let’s take a deeper look at the schedule for August (organized by sectors with the most flightsWhich 737 MAX 8 or 9 is the most prominent?
Overall, the 737 MAX 9 has some real advantages in UA’s Alaska network of destinations.
For instance, on the Houston to Anchorage (IAH-ANC) route, when transitioning from the MAX 8 to the MAX 9, the number of flights increases from 13 to 18, seats increase from 2,158 to 3,222, and Available Seat Miles (ASMs) increase from 7,045,870 to 10,519,830.Similarly, on the Chicago to Anchorage (ORD-ANC) route, both aircraft operate 31 flights; however, the MAX 9 accommodates more passengers with 5,549 seats compared to the MAX 8’s 5,146 and achieves higher ASMs, 15,792,454 compared to 14,645,516.
This pattern is echoed on the San Francisco to Anchorage (SFO-ANC) route, where the MAX 9 not only provides more flights—21 compared to 15—but also increases seats from 2,490 to 3,759 and ASMs from 5,024,820 to 7,585,662.Final thoughts
The use of the larger variant on key routes indicates strong demand for air travel in the US Great North, which is positive for the state’s tourism. Although this is just a sample of United Airlines’ extensive nationwide network, it also indicates sustained demand for air travel— This is good news after several years of downturn.