Alaska Airlines To Save $115 Million In Fuel Costs With New "All Boeing" Fleet

August 29, 2008 2:43 p.m. EST

Seattle, WA (AHN) - Alaska Airlines said Thursday that it has retired its last MD-80 airplane this week, and has shifted to an all-Boeing 737 fleet.

The East Bay Business Times reported that the Seattle, Washington-based airlines' move will save millions of dollars in fuel costs.

A Boeing 737-800 consumes about 850 gallons of fuel per hour compared with the MD-80, which burns at 1,100 gallons per hour, according to Alaska Airlines.

The transition would save the company about $115 million per year in jet fuel costs, the report added.

Officials of the airlines launched its "Spirit of Seattle" Boeing 737-800. Alaska Airlines confirms eight deliveries new 737-800s before the end of the year, bringing a total of 116 Boeing 737s.