During a festive celebration in Seattle on May 16, 2001, The Boeing Company delivered the first 737-900 to launch customer Alaska Airlines. The new airplane was the first of 11 737-900s Alaska Airlines ordered. At 138 feet 2 inches, the 737-900 is the longest of the four Next-Generation 737 models and seats the most passengers. As configured by Alaska, the airplane carries 172 passengers in a two-class configuration, 52 more passengers than their 737-700s and 34 more than their 737-400s and MD-80s. In 2002 the 737 manufacturing process converted to a moving line system, replacing the station to station method of assembly pictured here.