<P> In the 1980s, Alaska began acquiring McDonnell Douglas MD - 80s . Alaska acquired additional MD - 80s via the acquisition of Jet America Airlines in 1987 . Alaska was the launch customer for the MD - 83, and took delivery of the first airplanes in 1985 . Alaska continued to take delivery of new MD - 83s during the 1990s, both to meet the demands of a growing route system, and to retire its aging and fuel inefficient 727 fleet . In 2005, due to the greater efficiency of the Boeing 737 Next Generation and rising costs for maintenance, fuel and crew training, Alaska Airlines decided to phase out the remaining 26 MD - 80s and trained the pilots to fly the newer 737 - 800s that were being ordered to replace them . The last MD - 80 flights took place on August 25, 2008 . </P> <P> Alaska also used eight Boeing 737 - 200 Combi / QCs to suit the unique needs of flying in the state of Alaska . These aircraft were valued for their ability to be rapidly reconfigured (hence the moniker QC or "Quick Change") to match the specific cargo and passenger loads for any given flight . In the all - freight configuration, the 737 - 200 Combis carried up to six cargo containers, known as "igloos ." The palletized floor allowed for passenger seating to range from 26 to 72 seats . The 737 - 200s were also gravel - kitted, which allowed them to be used at airports such as Red Dog, which formerly featured a gravel runway . Alaska replaced the 737 - 200s with six reconfigured 737 - 400s between 2006 and 2007 . Five feature a mixed cargo / passenger "Combi" arrangement, and one is a "freighter" carrying only cargo . Unlike the 737 - 200 Combi, the 737 - 400 Combis feature a fixed seating capacity of 72 seats . The last 737 - 200 Combi (short for combination) was retired in 2007 and is now displayed at the Alaska Aviation Museum . The 737 - 400 Combi aircraft were retired in October 2017 . </P> <P> The airline's livery and logo has remained remarkably similar for the last 50 years; with the word Alaska on the front sides of fuselage, with image of a native Alaskan Eskimo on the vertical stabilizer as a logo . </P> <P> The image of the Eskimo first appeared in 1972 alongside three other logos that each represented a part of Alaskan history: a totem pole, a gold miner, and Russian spires . The Eskimo is depicted wearing a traditional qulittaq (parka with ruff). In 1976, the airline adopted the Eskimo tail fleet - wide, with the design slightly changed to have the face smiling . </P>

Who is the image on alaska airlines planes