Alaska Airlines totally transitions to all-Boeing 737 fleet.

• Author: Pounds, Nancy
• Position: AIRLINES

With the retirement of its last MD-80 series airplane, Alaska Airlines' two-year plan to increase the airline's operational efficiency and improve fuel conservation is underway. The 737-800 burns 850 gallons of fuel per hour compared to the 1,100 gallons per hour by the MD-80. A common fleet type also will result in lower costs for maintenance, training and flight crew scheduling. "With the last of our MD-80s retiring today and scheduled...