Alaska Airlines opens big new hangar at Anchorage airport

Updated: November 8, 2018 Published: November 8, 2018

An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-700 is parked inside the new Alaska Airlines Maintenance and Engineering Facility and Hangar at 3600 Old International Airport Road at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport on Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Alaska Airlines officially opened its new Maintenance and Engineering Facility and Hangar at 3600 Old International Airport Road at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport on Wednesday.

According to Tim Thompson, Alaska Airlines manager for external affairs, the $50 million building more than doubles the size of the original 1950s-era hangar nearby.

The new hangar measures more than 100,000 square feet, large enough to house two 737-MAX 9 aircraft. Alaska's old hangar is unable to accommodate the airline's next-generation aircraft.

The airline broke ground on the new hangar in August 2016.

An engine cowling on Boeing 737-700 remained open during a grand opening of the Maintenance and Engineering Facility and Hangar on Wednesday. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Frozen Spenard Lake is in front of the new Alaska Airlines Maintenance and Engineering Facility. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Alaska Airline captains Mark Calkins and Sean Ellis were on hand for the opening of the 100,000-square-foot Maintenance and Engineering Facility and Hangar. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Alaska Airlines officially opened its new Maintenance and Engineering Facility and Hangar at 3600 Old International Airport Road at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport on Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Bill Roth

Bill Roth is a staff photojournalist at the Anchorage Daily News.