Alaska Air Cargo begins operating first 737-800BCF

Alaska Air Cargo has put into service a new 737-800BCF (Boeing Converted Freighter) and will add another second 737-800BCF “early next year”.

The 737-800 freighters have been sourced  from Alaska Airlines’ passenger fleet. The US cargo airline currently has three 737-700Fs in its fleet. 

Alaska Air Cargo took delivery of the first 737-800BCF, from lessor Babcock & Brown Aircraft Management (BBAM), last month.

The first aircraft was converted at Cooperativa Autogestionaria de Servicios Aeroindustriales (COOPESA), a maintenance facility in Costa Rica. 

Now, the second aircraft is being converted by Boeing at KF Aerospace in British Columbia. 

Ketchikan (KTN), Sitka (SIT), Juneau (JNU) and Bethel (BET) will be among the first in Alaska to benefit from the increased capacity, with expanded freighter service coming to their communities by mid-December, said the airline.

The new freighters are in the process of becoming ETOPS-certified, which will enable them to fly long ranges over open water. The aircraft’s expanded range will allow the cargo team to explore new routes, such as a possible nonstop from King Salmon (AKN) to Seattle (SEA).  

“The conversion of passenger aircraft -800s to freighters allows us to build cargo capacity for the long haul,” said Alaska Air Cargo managing director Adam Drouhard, who noted that the cargo team has invested in infrastructure improvements and new equipment across the state of Alaska to support the freighter fleet growth.  

Each 737-800BCF can carry 10,000 pounds more than a 737-700F. They also have a configuration that holds more containers.

This means the fleet will offer additional space for e-commerce shipments, fresh seafood and essential goods like groceries, medical supplies and building materials traveling to communities in Alaska.
 
“With a fleet of five, we’ll have the flexibility and capacity to do even more drop-ins for fishing communities when the salmon are running,” said Shannon Stevens, Alaska Air Cargo sales manager for the state of Alaska. “We’ll be ready to fill those freighters full of fish.” 

Alaska Air Cargo carries more than 200m pounds of freight each year to more than 100 destinations across North America.