Alaska retired its last 737-900 this week, having operated the aircraft type for over two decades. The Seattle-based carrier served as the aircraft’s launch customer in 2001.
N309AS was the last remaining 737-900 in Alaska’s fleet at 24 years old. On Wednesday, it ferried from Seattle to storage at Pinal Airpark in Marana, Arizona.
The airline had been phasing out its 12 737-900s over the last several months, planning to retire them by the end of 2025.
These aircraft are different from the 737-900ER variant, of which Alaska has 79. The 737-900s are a rather rare type, too, with only 30 in service around the world, according to Cirium Fleet Analyzer data.
Alaska has no immediate plans to phase out its fleet of 737-900ERs (Extended Range). This type is a far more popular version of the 737-900, with nearly 500 in service worldwide.
The non-ER 737-900s are slated for scrapping in Arizona. The airline sold them to aftermarket parts supplier Aventure Aviation, which will dismantle the aircraft.
Key parts — such as landing gear, avionics, thrust reversers, control surfaces, and auxiliary power units — will be salvaged and shipped to a newly established, substantially larger warehouse near Atlanta to meet growing demand, the company said.
