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).