Alaska Airlines will retire its last four "combi" planes this fall, the Associated Press reported.
The special Boeing 737-400s were designed to carry cargo in the middle and up to 72 passengers in the rear.
Alaska Airlines is the only major carrier operating combi planes, which are capable of transporting up to four large cargo containers weighing anywhere from 12,000 to 14,000 pounds.
The final combi flight will take place October 18, flying from Juneau, Alaska to Seattle.
The combi planes will be replaced by the converted Boeing 737-700 cargo aircraft. The industry-first plane, which has been transformed from all-passenger to all-freight, officially entered commercial service Tuesday.
"This one-of-a-kind aircraft marks the beginning of a new era at Alaska Airlines," said the carrier's vice president of airport operations and customer service, Wayne Newton, in a statement. "With an all-freight fleet, our cargo business is now a stand-alone operation, allowing us to better focus on the needs of our cargo customers."
Israel Aerospace Industries converted Alaska Airlines' first 737-700 freighter over the course of 19 months in Tel Aviv. The airline will eventually take delivery of two more 737-700 cargo planes, meaning its fleet will be capable of carrying 15 percent more cargo overall.
Alaska's one-of-a-kind combi planes were originally designed to help meet the challenges posed by the state's lack of accessibility. The planes were able to transport people and goods to remote hubs across Alaska in a cost-efficient manner.
According to the AP, the combi planes were famous for delivering milk to communities throughout southeast Alaska.
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While the combi's uniqueness will be lost, Alaska Airlines' new-look fleet will allow the airline to improve its operations in the long run.
"The new freighter will transform our cargo business and allow us to provide more efficient and consistent service," said Jason Berry, Alaska Air Cargo managing director, in a statement. "Now we can move more freight than ever before, and optimize schedules to meet the needs of our cargo partners."
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