Transportation infrastructure: Alaska Airlines invests in Alaska.

• Author: Anderson, Tasha
• Position: SPECIAL SECTION: Building Alaska

In late July Alaska Airlines announced the selection of local architecture firm McCool Carson Green and general contractor Kiewit to construct a new $40 million dollar hangar on the east side of the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, approximately half a mile from Alaska's existing hangar facility. Marilyn Romano, Alaska Airlines regional vice president, says the current hangar was built in 1954 and was originally owned by Northern Consolidated Airlines. "We bought it to accommodate much smaller aircraft, to give you a sense of how we've grown," Romano says.

The new hangar, which will measure 105,000 square feet, more than double the space of the current hangar, will be capable of housing two Boeing 737-Max 9 aircraft, which are approximately 138 feet long and 40 feet tall with a wingspan of nearly 118 feet.

Romano says that Alaska hasn't yet received a 737-Max 9, even one of which wouldn't actually fit in the current hangar: the wingspan is too great.

Romano says that Alaska Airlines is retiring its fleet of 737-400s and as that happens "it becomes even more important that we have a bigger hangar. We can get two of the 737-400s into the hangar, but since we're retiring all those we have to have a plan moving forward."

She continues, "It really sets us up for our state of Alaska operations to have our maintenance and engineering team to be able to work on those larger aircraft in a safe, warm environment. It sets us up for growth."

August Groundbreaking

Alaska Airlines held an official groundbreaking August 22 with Alaska Airlines' executives, representatives from Kiewit and McCool Carlson Green, and state community leaders. The property for the new hangar was purchased from Signature Flight Support and includes an existing structure that needs to be demolished before construction can take place. Romano says Kiewit plans to have an RFP out to bid for the demolition of the current structure, fencing, and possible utility work to begin this fall. "The plan is for Kiewit to get as much of the ground work done as possible before winter sets in and then really hit the project hard next spring," she says. Alaska Airlines anticipates the hangar being completed in the summer of 2018.

However, that is only part of the plan Alaska Airlines has in Alaska. Romano says that Alaska Airlines plans to spend nearly $100 million in the state over the next five years, including the $40 million for the hangar.

The other approximately $60 million is...