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Alaska Airlines launches new era of widebody international flying in Seattle with daily nonstop service to Tokyo Narita operated by Hawaiian Airlines 

Summary

We’re transforming Alaska’s hometown airport into the West Coast’s premier global gateway.

We’re planning for at least 12 international destinations with long-haul aircraft from Seattle by 2030.

Nonstop transpacific flights between Seattle and Seoul Incheon begin in September.

Alaska Airlines is celebrating a new global connection between the Pacific Northwest and Japan with flights between our hometown hub in Seattle and Tokyo Narita, operated by Hawaiian Airlines’ long-haul aircraft. The new service marks the start of daily nonstops between the two dynamic cities and the beginning of a new era of widebody international flying for Alaska.

With the combination of Alaska and Hawaiian, we’re transforming Seattle into the West Coast’s new premier global gateway. Our hub at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is already the largest airline hub on the West Coast, serving 104 nonstop destinations across North America. Seattle is the closest connection point between the continental U.S. and Tokyo – 7% closer than San Francisco and 13% closer than Los Angeles.

Our growing fleet of widebody aircraft, which includes the flagship 787 Dreamliner, unleashes a world of possibilities of where we can fly to from Seattle. Looking ahead, we’ll have exciting additional milestones as we share the new international routes we’ll be launching in the coming years, including destinations in Europe, as part of our plans to serve at least 12 international destinations with widebody aircraft from Seattle by 2030.”

– Ben Minicucci

CEO at Alaska Air Group

Tokyo Narita and Seoul Incheon are our first two long-haul flights from Seattle of the 12 we’re looking to add. We’ve seen strong interest in our nonstop flights to Tokyo, with half of the tickets we’ve sold in the U.S. for flights to Narita originating from more than 80 cities outside of Seattle. Flights between Seattle and Seoul begin on Sept. 12.

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“Hawaiian has been serving the Tokyo market for nearly 15 years. We’re thrilled to open this new global gateway with Alaska, giving more Pacific Northwest travelers and beyond the opportunity to experience the award-winning hospitality that Hawaiian is known for.”

– Joe Sprague

CEO at Hawaiian Airlines

Tokyo is the second-largest intercontinental market in Seattle for both business and leisure. Seoul is third; London is first. In 2024, about 400 passengers traveled between Seattle and Tokyo in each direction every day, and that’s not including connecting flights – an indication of the popularity of the route. From across our robust network, guests can travel to Tokyo Narita and Seoul with one stop in Seattle.

“This is a monumental step for our hometown carrier, Alaska Airlines, and a reflection of the commitment of this entire region to international travel and trade. SEA’s position as a global hub is a boon to the Pacific Northwest and provides more choices and opportunities for business and leisure travelers.”

– Ryan Calkins

Port of Seattle Commissioner

The future of our international service from Seattle will be with our growing fleet of Boeing 787-9 aircraft as we lean into the strong presence of the Alaska brand in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. Onboard service will initially mirror the Hawaiian hospitality that Hawaiian Airlines guests know and love, while Alaska develops a comprehensive, long-haul experience that will be deployed from Seattle in the future. The Airbus A330 fleet, based in Honolulu, remains a proud part of the Hawaiian Airlines brand as we invest in that aircraft’s future for flying to and from Hawaiʻi. We’ll refresh the A330s in the coming years to provide a premium, modern global experience. This includes investments in seating, cabin interiors and onboard products and amenities. We’ll share details in 2026.

Initial flights between Seattle and Tokyo Narita will be on the A330s operated by Hawaiian:

    Guests can choose from three classes of service: Business Class with full-flat seating, Extra Comfort and Main Cabin.

    Business Class offers pre-departure beverages and a choice from three elevated meal options with Japanese and Hawaiian influences and a vegetarian selection, along with two dessert options. There’s also a mid-flight snack and another hot meal before arrival.

    Main Cabin guests can choose from two complimentary hot entrees, with ice cream offered as a dessert option along with mid-flight snacks and a second hot meal pre-arrival.

    Our A330 aircraft offer the fastest Wi-Fi in the sky – for free – on all flights to and from Japan. Guests can easily connect to Starlink’s high-speed, low-latency Wi-Fi and experience internet at speeds suitable for working, streaming video and gaming. Plus, every seat in Business and Extra Comfort is equipped with power outlets.

    Guests in all classes of service receive an amenity kit in partnership with the Hawaiʻi lifestyle brand Noho Home. In Business Class, guests will enjoy full bedding in their full-flat seats with a mattress pad, duvet, pillows and even slippers. With sustainability in mind, they also choose which amenity items they’d like.

    Staying entertained on board is not a problem. Guests can choose from nearly 200 new releases and classic movies, and more than 500 TV shows. The Hana Hou! TV and Hawaiian Skies categories within our entertainment system also include a curated selection of Hawaiʻi-focused local shows and short films.

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    We’re also celebrating our new Seattle-Tokyo Narita service in the Alaska Lounge at the N Concourse in Seattle with a specially curated signature cocktail called the Narita Banana. It’s in partnership with Westland Whiskey, based in Seattle, and the popular bar Tokyo Confidential in the Japanese capital.

    Mileage Plan members achieve elite status more quickly than they would on any other airline. When booking flights directly at alaskaair.com, members earn at least 100% of the miles for the distance they fly (Saver and basic fares earn 30%). Those miles are also counted as valuable elite-qualifying miles (EQMs) – the building blocks toward earning elite status. On long-haul flights, miles add up fast, and so do EQMs. Plus, members can choose from a selection of perks when they hit various EQM milestones between elite status levels.

    Mileage Plan members can also earn EQMs on their mileage redemption travel with us or our airline partners based on the distance of the flights. For example: If a member redeems a roundtrip award ticket in the main cabin between Seattle and Tokyo Narita, which covers a total distance of 9,538 miles, that translates to 9,538 earned EQMs – a sizable leap toward attaining elite status or the next milestone in our loyalty program.

    HawaiianMiles members can link their HawaiianMiles and Mileage Plan accounts together to have their status matched, allowing them to enjoy elite benefits when traveling on either airline.

     

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    About Alaska Air Group

    Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group, with McGee Air Services a subsidiary of Alaska Airlines. With hubs in Seattle, Honolulu, Portland, Anchorage, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco, we deliver remarkable care as we fly our guests to more than 140 destinations throughout North America, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific. Alaska is a member of the oneworld Alliance with Hawaiian scheduled to join in 2026. With oneworld and our additional global partners, guests can earn and redeem miles for travel to over 1,000 worldwide destinations. Guests can book travel at alaskaair.com and hawaiianairlines.com. Learn more about what’s happening at Alaska and Hawaiian. Alaska Air Group is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as “ALK.”

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    When your hero is Mom: Mother and son pilots fly together in a milestone moment for Alaska Airlines 

    Summary

    First Officer Jeff Miles grew up admiring his mom’s extraordinary job as an Alaska Airlines pilot and dreamed of following in her footsteps.

    Last week, Jeff’s dream came true as he joined his mom, Captain Michelle Miles, in the flight deck, making history as the first mother-son pilot team for Alaska Airlines.

    Jeff Miles grew up watching his mom leave for work in her Alaska Airlines pilot’s uniform, never thinking much of it. After all, he thought, doesn’t everyone’s mom fly airplanes for a living? But as Jeff got older, he began to understand how extraordinary his mom’s job was and aspired to one day follow in her footsteps. 

    That dream came true last week when Jeff, a newly hired first officer for Alaska Airlines, joined his mom, Captain Michelle Miles, in the flight deck of a Boeing 737 to fly from Seattle to Kahului, Maui.  

    As Jeff prepared for the flight, he could hardly contain his excitement. “I’ve waited 27 years for this moment,” he said while taking his seat beside his mom. Together, Jeff and Michelle made history as Alaska Airlines’ first-ever mother-son pilot team in its 90-plus years. 

    Michelle and Jeff Miles, Alaska Airlines

    A chance bit of serendipity for an airline with approximately 3,000 pilots and 1,400 daily flights that these two would end up paired in the flight deck? Not exactly. The milestone involved schedule juggling and logistics assistance from Alaska’s chief pilot’s office, but the effort was for good reason. Michelle, a 37-year captain retiring this fall, and Jeff had talked for months about continuing a family tradition that began nearly three decades ago.

    Michelle and Jeff Miles, Alaska Airlines

    Take Your Kid to Work Day 

     Flashback to 29 years ago, almost to the day of Jeff and Michelle’s flight, Michelle found herself in the pilot’s seat beside her father, Capt. Richard “Ski” Olsonoski. Back then, the two Alaska Airlines pilots had longed to fly together and eventually had the opportunity to team up during a “Take Your Daughter to Work Day” celebration.

    “Serving as a co-pilot for my dad was one of the highlights of my career. And now, to repeat the experience with my son – well, that’s about as good as it gets.”

    – Michelle Miles

    Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Captain

    Michelle Miles with Dad
    The Miles Family

    Growing up Alaska Airlines

    You could say Jeff has jet fuel in his blood. Grandfather Ski, a retired Navy pilot, joined Alaska Airlines in 1981. In his grandson’s eyes, he was “larger than life.”

    “I’ll always think him in his leather bomber jacket and his crush cap. His look just embodied ‘pilot’ to me,” Jeff explained.

    As a young boy, Jeff often played fighter pilot while wearing his grandfather’s old Navy flight helmet (despite his mom’s attempts to hide the dusty, dirty helmet) and commanding his squadron of buddies.

    “Little me would often just stare at that helmet and imagine what it would be like to soar through the air, hearing the sound of the wind and engines,” Jeff said.

    Michelle and Jeff Miles

    Michelle started flying at age 16, buoyed by her dad’s example. She got her private pilot’s license at 17, attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and went on to serve in the U.S. Air Force. She joined Alaska Airlines in 1988 as its 17th female pilot – and the first with a military background. She continued to serve in the military reserves during her tenue at Alaska, flying C-141 cargo planes during the Gulf War. 

    Proud mom moment

    Unlike many childhood dreams that fade with time, Jeff’s ambition to fly only grew stronger, thanks to Michelle’s encouragement.

    “She knew from the start how much I wanted to fly. Ever since I was little, she was always patient and giving me the right nudges on how to get to where I am now.”

    – Jeff Miles

    Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 First Officer

    Jeff attended Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake, Washington, where he completed an aviation program and later worked as a flight instructor while earning his four-year degree. He initially flew for SkyWest until he received the call he’d been waiting for and joined Alaska Airlines in July 2023.

    In addition to Jeff, Michelle’s older son and daughter-in-law are pilots for other airlines. For Michelle and her husband, an engineer and stay-at-home dad, seeing their children soar in their careers has been a profound joy.

    “I can’t really put into words what this all means to me. It’s all come full circle since flying with my dad. My career at Alaska Airlines has been an incredible experience,” Michelle said.

    For Jeff, who felt like he’d been preparing for this day his entire life, the flight with his mom was a dream come true. “They say you don’t get to meet your heroes,” he said, “but I’ve known mine since I was born.”

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    Alaska Air Group announces leadership promotions in key enterprise oversight roles

    Summary

    Brooke Vatheuer has been promoted to senior vice president of safety and audit programs for Alaska Air Group and Alaska Airlines.

    Allie Wittenberger has been elected vice president of audit programs for Alaska Airlines.

    The Alaska Air Group board of directors has placed two veteran executives in key oversight roles to enhance safety and internal audit functions at Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Horizon Air and McGee Air Services.  These appointments support Safety as the Company’s top priority and Alaska and Hawaiian’s continued international growth.

    The reorganized leadership structure involves :

    • Brooke Vatheuer, who has been promoted to senior vice president of safety and audit programs for Alaska Air Group and Alaska Airlines;
    • Max Tidwell, who remains vice president of safety and security for Alaska Air Group and Alaska Airlines; and
    • Allie Wittenberger, who has been elected vice president of audit programs for Alaska Airlines

    This is a transformational time for Alaska Air Group, and I’m grateful to our team who is leveling up across the organization as we emerge a stronger airline with more global presence. Brooke and Allie are trusted leaders who reflect our Alaska values and continue to lend valuable safety and audit oversight as we grow and introduce ourselves to even more of the world.

    – Ben Minicucci

    President and CEO, Alaska Air Group

    Brooke Vatheuer – AAG Senior Vice President of Safety and Audit Programs

    As the senior vice president of safety and audit programs for Alaska Air Group, Brooke Vatheuer will oversee both the safety and aviation security programs across Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Horizon Air and McGee Air Services, as well as the internal audit function that examines, evaluates and reports on Alaska Air Group’s business and operational processes. The safety and audit teams will remain directly accountable to committees of the Board of Directors and Vatheuer will lead both teams’ strategies to ensure the strongest focus on safety and accountability.

    Max Tidwell will continue his role as vice president of safety and security, where he oversees all safety functions at Air Group companies and drives development of long-term safety and security strategies.

    Vatheuer joined Alaska Airlines in 2007 as an internal auditor and quickly took on leadership roles including Horizon Air’s vice president of finance and planning and senior vice president of operations and planning. In 2020, Vatheuer transitioned to vice president of strategic performance for Alaska Airlines, overseeing performance for all operational groups in the daily Seattle operation and most recently served as the vice president of audit programs. She has a master’s degree in professional accounting and bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Washington.

    Allie Wittenberger – Alaska Airlines Vice President of Audit Programs

    Allie Wittenberger, in her new role as vice president of audit programs, will set the strategic vision and lead enterprise-level audit and assurance programs. Wittenberger will lead a team whose mission is to continuously improve Alaska’s systems of financial, safety, operational, organizational and technological controls.

    Wittenberger joined Alaska in 2010 as a senior internal auditor. She has held numerous leadership positions in the audit program, financial planning and analysis and ethics and compliance. Wittenberger most recently served as Alaska Air Group’s managing director of corporate affairs and compliance where she supported Board of Director functions, corporate governance and compliance programs. She received a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from Washington State University and is a certified public accountant.

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    Alaska Air Group CEO Ben Minicucci statement on DOT’s air traffic control action plan

    Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines applaud the critical and historic plan for investment that Secretary Duffy and the Trump Administration are proposing today to rebuild and modernize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic control (ATC) system.

    I appreciate the Secretary’s focus on safety, addressing the foundations of our aviation systems across the country, the root causes of our ATC challenges, as well as putting us on a path to optimize and innovate the technology supporting air space management. As an engineer, I know investing in the right systems and technology can transform the efficiency of our industry, which directly translates to a better travel experience for the millions of people flying in the U.S. every day.

    We look forward to working with Secretary Duffy, Acting Administrator Rocheleau, Congressional lawmakers, and leaders in Washington, D.C. to advance these investments and usher in the safest and most efficient age of air travel.

    Alaska Air Group appoints former Deloitte executive and proud Seattleite, Pete Shimer, to the board of directors

    Summary

    Pete Shimer, former Deloitte executive and proud Seattleite, will join Alaska Air Group, Inc.’s board of directors.

    Shimer will fill the seat left by Ken Thompson who retires after 25 years of service.

    Alaska Air Group, Inc. announced today the election of Pete Shimer to the company’s board of directors. Shimer began as an auditor and has since held numerous C-suite positions at international public accounting firm Deloitte, most recently serving as its interim chief executive officer.  Shimer retires from Deloitte this month after 41-year career.  He will fill the Alaska Air Group board seat vacated by Ken Thompson on his retirement after 25 years of service. Shimer’s election is effective immediately, and he will serve on the board’s Audit and Safety Committees.

    Shimer earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Washington where he serves as a board member for the university’s Foundation, he also serves on the board of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center.

    I am happy to welcome Pete to the Alaska Air Group board. His expertise in operational and financial matters will be an asset to us, as will his deeply-rooted commitment to the Seattle community and long history as an Alaska Airlines customer. We look forward to his contributions.

    – Patty Bedient

    Alaska Air Group Board Chair

    A legacy rooted in Alaska values

     

    Retiring from the board after 25 years of service, Ken Thompson leaves a legacy steeped in Alaska values and going beyond formal board member duties. Thompson was a founding member of the board’s Safety Committee after the tragedy of flight 261 and ,over his years, served on all but one board committee.

    “Ken has been a trusted advisor to the management team, offering wisdom and perspective that have helped guide us through many critical moments in our history, and asking probing questions that have improved our thinking,” said Alaska CEO Ben Minicucci. “His deep understanding of the company’s values and his strategic mindset have been instrumental in shaping key decisions that have strengthened our company. We will miss his leadership and wish him well.”

    In 2019, Thompson was selected as one of the 100 most influential corporate directors by the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD).

    Alaska Air Group directors serve one-year terms upon election at the company’s annual meeting of stockholders. With Shimer’s election, the board has 9 independent director seats.  CEO Ben Minicucci serves on the board as a non-independent director. 

     

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    Aircraft technicians at Horizon Air ratify new four-year contract

    Summary

    Horizon Air maintenance technicians and fleet service agents, represented by the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), have ratified a new four-year contract that includes significant improvements such as increases to the wage scale, separate vacation and sick leave accruals and other compensation increases.

    The agreement passed by more than 74% of those employees who voted. 

    Horizon Air aircraft technicians and fleet service agents, who are represented by the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), have ratified a new four-year contract. The contract was approved by more than 74% of those employees who voted. The new contract includes increases to the wage scale, separate vacation and sick leave accruals and other compensation increases.

    Horizon’s aircraft technicians are responsible for the maintenance of the carrier’s fleet of 45 Embraer 175s.

    Our technicians and fleet service employees play a very important role in our operation. They’re some of the best in the industry and do an incredible job of keeping our aircraft safe, reliable and clean. We are grateful to the AMFA negotiating team for working with us to find solutions that not only work for our technicians, but position Horizon for the future.

    – Nathan Engel

    Vice President of Maintenance & Engineering at Horizon Air

    Thank you to AMFA14 members for your strong participation and patience during this process. Your negotiating team was focused on reaching an agreement that benefits all of us today and moving forward.

    – Chuck Clum

    AMFA Local 14 Horizon Air Representative

    Contracts in the airline industry do not expire. Once they become amendable, the current contract remains in effect until a new agreement is ratified.

    With bases in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska, Horizon serves more than 55 cities throughout North America.

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    About Alaska Air Group

    Alaska Air Group, Inc. is based in Seattle and comprised of subsidiaries Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Holdings, Inc., Horizon Air and McGee Air Services. With our recent acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, we now serve more than 140 destinations throughout North America, Central America, Asia and across the Pacific. We are committed to safety, remarkable customer care, operational excellence, financial performance and sustainability. Alaska Airlines is a member of the oneworld Alliance. With oneworld and our additional global partners, our guests have more choices than ever to purchase, earn or redeem on alaskaair.com across 30 airlines and more than 1,000 worldwide destinations. Book travel throughout the Pacific on Hawaiian Airlines at hawaiianairlines.com. Learn more about Alaska Airlines at news.alaskaair.com and Hawaiian Airlines at newsroom.hawaiianairlines.com/blog. Alaska Air Group is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as “ALK.”

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    Fall in love with Seoul: Why autumn is the best time to go (and how to fly there for $999)

    Summary

    Getting to South Korea from the West Coast has never been easier. Our new nonstop service between Seattle and Seoul takes flight Sept. 12.

    Starting May 6 through May 13, you can book $999 roundtrip fares to Seoul from our Seattle hub.

    Seoul is a city worth savoring, from its fresh and fermented flavors and aromatic street food to sprawling cultural landmarks nestled in pockets of a bustling metropolis. Springtime blooms with cherry blossoms, fall glows in crisp golden leaves, and year-round, the city teems with an energy that has made South Korea a growing global curiosity.

    Getting to South Korea from the West Coast has never been easier. Our new nonstop service between Seattle and Seoul, operated with Hawaiian Airlines’ award-winning service and hospitality, takes flight Sept. 12, just in time for Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving), one of the nation’s most important and festive holidays. Starting May 6 through May 13, you can book $999 roundtrip fares to Seoul from our Seattle hub. Start planning your South Korea getaway today at www.hawaiianairlines.com/deals-and-offers/seattle-seoul. Terms and conditions apply.

    Book your trip to Seoul from Seattle

    Trip booked — check!  Now, the cultural adventure of a lifetime begins.

    Start planning your trip with expert advice from Soojin Yu, a Seoul resident and Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines’ Regional Director of Asia.

    Soojin Yu

    Seoul is setting the stage as a cultural icon

    Seoul is becoming a hub for trendsetters with globally recognized fashion, beauty and lifestyle brands holding pop-ups citywide. Yu says you’ll find most of them in neighborhoods like Seongsu, Hongdae and at The Hyundai Seoul (Yeouido), with events lasting from just a few days to several months.

    “Plus, as K-pop idols continue to rise in global popularity, many are launching their own pop-up stores to celebrate new albums, birthdays, debuts and more. We’re seeing these events increasingly attract international fans who come for limited-edition merchandise, immersive games and interactive experiences,” she said.

    Fall is one of the best times to visit Seoul

    Our nonstop Seattle service comes at the perfect time; fall is the ideal season to explore Seoul. Yu recommends going to the Seoul International Fireworks Festival, which is set for late September 2025. The event attracts over a million visitors to the banks of the famous Han River and sets off stunning aerial displays over the city.

    If serene is more your scene, she says to stop at the Seoul Outdoor Library (Sept. 5 – Nov. 2, 2025). The activation is an inviting space for book lovers who want to slow down, be present and explore multilingual titles, including English translations, amid Seoul Plaza’s crisp autumn ambiance.

    “And you have to spend time at Seoul’s royal palaces, where nature and history come together at any time of the year,” Yu said. “Deoksugung Palace is this charming retreat with a stone-wall road that is especially picturesque and beautiful in the changing leaves.”

    Deoksugung Palace

    Yu also says the Rear Garden of Changdeokgung Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is stunning and bursts into the most vibrant shades of red and gold during September and October.

    Whether traveling as a family, solo, or with others, Yu believes there’s something for everyone. “Weekend concerts, movie screenings, and pop-up events are common in Seoul and held throughout the city.”

    Foodies, you won’t be disappointed

    Love food but not sure where to begin? Yu says start with Korea’s most famous dishes – Korean BBQ, chicken & beer, and bibimbap. “In addition, I love street foods like tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), soondae (Korean sausage), hotteok (a stuffed pancake), etc. Bungeobbang (a fish-shaped pastry) and gyeranbbang (egg bread) are especially popular in winter, as well as naengmyeon (cold noodles), samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) and kimchi jjigae (kimchi stew),” she shared.

    For a more casual, local experience, she recommends places like Gwangjang Market and Myeongdong Street, where you can sample a variety of street foods in a lively atmosphere.

    No matter when you visit, Yu says these are essential Seoul experiences:

    • Take a ride in the Namsan Cable Car for sweeping views of Seoul.
    • Enjoy a walk through Bukchon Hanok Village to experience Korean architecture and culture.
    • Spend some time at the Gyeongbokgung Palace, the largest and most beautiful of all five palaces, and where many Joseon kings were crowned.
    • Visit Korea House, a high-end cultural complex offering Hanjeongsik, a full-course Korean-style meal, as well as traditional refreshments and performance arts. Travelers can also enjoy the elegant beauty of a hanok, a traditional Korean house.
    • Go to Bongeunsa Temple, which has a history of over 1,200 years and was the largest temple in Seoul during the Chosun Dynasty. It offers temple-stay programs, allowing visitors to experience Buddhist traditions and purify their mind and body.
    • Check out Insa-dong, a charming neighborhood in the heart of Seoul, where travelers can find traditional Korean goods and discover art galleries, restaurants, teahouses, and cafés.
    • Explore the trails of Inwangsan Mountain and Bukhansan National Park.
    • Stroll along the Cheonggyecheon Stream, a beautiful waterway that flows through downtown Seoul and passes many tourist attractions.

    Before you jet off to Seoul, here’s what else she says you should know:

    Tipping is not customary in South Korea.

    Elders like to start conversations with travelers, asking questions like “Where are you from? Why are you visiting Seoul?”

    If you’re using an Airbnb or visiting a restaurant or café that’s inside a house, remove your shoes. It is a sign of respect in South Korea to take off your shoes before entering a home.

    Use Subway Korea and Kakao Taxi apps to get around the city. Uber is also available.

    Exploring by foot or Ddareungi bike-sharing is the best way to slow down and experience the city, but if you’re using cellular maps to navigate, bring a phone charger in case your battery needs to be recharged.

    Book now and start planning your trip to Seoul

    About Alaska Air Group

    Alaska Air Group, Inc. is based in Seattle and comprised of subsidiaries Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Holdings, Inc., Horizon Air and McGee Air Services. With our recent acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, we now serve more than 140 destinations throughout North America, Central America, Asia and across the Pacific. We are committed to safety, remarkable customer care, operational excellence, financial performance and sustainability. Alaska Airlines is a member of the oneworld Alliance. With oneworld and our additional global partners, our guests have more choices than ever to purchase, earn or redeem on alaskaair.com across 30 airlines and more than 1,000 worldwide destinations. Book travel throughout the Pacific on Hawaiian Airlines at hawaiianairlines.com. Learn more about Alaska Airlines at news.alaskaair.com and Hawaiian Airlines at newsroom.hawaiianairlines.com/blog. Alaska Air Group is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as “ALK.”

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    Alaska Airlines partners with Jumio to provide faster, more efficient travel

    Summary

    Through a new partnership with Jumio, international guests with U.S. and Canadian can now verify their identities directly in the Alaska Airlines app

    Jumio ID Verification integration into mobile app speeds up check-in and minimizes frustration for international travelers.

    Jumio, the leading provider of automated, AI-driven biometric identity verification, risk signals and compliance solutions, has partnered with Alaska Airlines to make check-in easier than ever for international travelers.

    Alaska Airlines is committed to providing its guests with a caring and seamless travel experience. This has led the airline to pursue innovations that enhance guests’ experience throughout the travel process, from the time they are searching for flights to their day of travel. As part of this effort, Alaska has invested in redefining its check-in experience, with an emphasis on self-service, digital offerings that minimize time spent in the airport lobby, helping guests get to security in five minutes or less.

    Jumio ID Verification is now fully integrated into the Alaska Airlines mobile app, enabling international travelers with U.S. and Canadian passports to verify their identity without standing in line at the check-in counter. This allows Alaska Airlines to establish the genuine identity of their guests — both individual travelers and multi-passenger itineraries — by verifying government-issued IDs in real time, automatically. Jumio offers the most comprehensive ID verification solution on the market, accepting and reliably verifying multiple types of government-issued IDs including passports, driver’s licenses and ID cards. In total, Jumio supports more than 5,000 ID subtypes around the globe.

    “We selected Jumio as the solution that best provides our guests with a seamless travel experience,” said Natalie Bowman, vice president of digital experience at Alaska Airlines. “Through this partnership, guests can verify their travel documents directly in their Alaska Airlines app, saving time in the airport lobby and at their gate.”

    “We are proud to partner with Alaska Airlines to help travelers save time at the airport and to drive adoption rates for self-service ID verification,” said Bala Kumar, chief product and technology officer at Jumio.

    To learn more about the partnership between Alaska Airlines and Jumio, check out our new case study.

    To learn more about Jumio and its award-winning, AI-powered solutions, visit jumio.com.

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    About Jumio
    Jumio helps organizations to know and trust their customers online. From account opening to ongoing monitoring, the Jumio Platform provides advanced identity verification, risk signals and compliance solutions that help you accurately establish, maintain and reassert trust.

    Leveraging powerful technology including automation, biometrics, AI/machine learning, liveness detection and no-code orchestration with hundreds of data sources, Jumio helps you fight fraud and financial crime, onboard good customers faster and meet regulatory compliance including KYC and AML. Jumio has processed more than 1 billion transactions spanning over 200 countries and territories from real-time web and mobile transactions.

    Based in Sunnyvale, California, Jumio operates globally with offices and representation in North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East and has been the recipient of numerous awards for innovation. Jumio is backed by Centana Growth Partners, Great Hill Partners and Millennium Technology Value Partners.

    For more information, please visit www.jumio.com.

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    Alaska Airlines welcomes Philippine Airlines, our newest global partner

    Summary

    Coming soon, our guests will be able to book nonstop flights on Philippine Airlines from Honolulu and our West Coast hubs to Manila at alaskaair.com and earn and redeem Mileage Plan miles along the way.

    Philippine Airlines becomes Alaska’s 32nd global partner.

    Alaska Airlines is celebrating the addition of our newest global airline partner, Philippine Airlines, the flag carrier of the Philippines and the oldest operating commercial airline in Asia. With our new frequent flyer partnership, Alaska becomes Philippine Airlines’ first loyalty partner in North America, opening the door for our guests to book travel to exotic, once-in-a-lifetime destinations such as Palawan and Boracay in the Philippines.

    In the coming months, our guests will be able to book flights on Philippine Airlines directly at alaskaair.com, earn Mileage Plan miles for their travel and redeem Mileage Plan miles for Philippine Airlines flights.

    Philippine Airlines offers a variety of flight options between Alaska’s hubs in Honolulu and the West Coast to Manila: Five nonstop flights a week from Honolulu; three nonstops a week from Seattle; two daily nonstops from Los Angeles; and a daily nonstop from San Francisco. From Philippine Airlines’ hub in Manila, travelers can connect to dozens of additional destinations in Asia and elsewhere.

    SAN-New-Routes-Announcement_Route

    Philippine Airlines is a terrific addition to our roster of global airlines offering world-class service and amenities. We’re excited to make this announcement as we mark the beginning of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The large Filipino communities living in Hawai‘i, California and Washington state can travel on Philippine Airlines long-haul, widebody aircraft and soon earn valuable Mileage Plan miles on their transpacific journeys.”

    – Brett Catlin

    Vice President of Loyalty, Alliances and Sales at Alaska Airlines

    This new partnership builds on the existing one that Hawaiian Airlines already had in place with Philippine Airlines. With the combination of Alaska and Hawaiian, we’re delivering more for our guests, including improvements and expansions to the partnership between Hawaiian and Philippine Airlines. In addition to Philippine Airlines continuing to offer Hawaiian codeshare flights on its website, Hawaiian flyers will soon be able to earn and redeem miles on Philippine Airlines when they use their Mileage Plan number.

    HawaiianMiles members can link their HawaiianMiles and Mileage Plan accounts together to have their status matched, allowing them to enjoy elite benefits when traveling on either airline.

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    “We are proud to partner with Alaska Airlines to deliver even greater value to our Mabuhay Miles members. This strategic collaboration significantly expands our network and flight options, enabling our members to enjoy enhanced connectivity and flexibility in how and where they use their miles. It’s an exciting step forward in enriching the overall travel experience we offer.”

    – Alvin M. Miranda

    Philippine Airlines’ Vice President for Marketing

    Philippine Airlines becomes Alaska’s 32nd global partner. When guests book any partner flight directly on alaskaair.com, they earn more miles faster – 100% of the miles for the distance they fly. If traveling in a premium cabin, they’ll earn 250% of the distance flown on all business class fares with all our partners.

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    New Alaska Airlines trading cards take flight this World Pilots’ Day

    Summary

    Alaska Airlines is celebrating World Pilots’ Day with a new eight-card trading set, created in collaboration with our pilots to honor our iconic modern liveries.

    With a legacy dating back to the 1990s, our trading cards return as sought-after collectibles, cherished by aviation enthusiasts and young travelers alike.

    Fasten your seatbelts—Alaska Airlines is soaring into World Pilots’ Day with a brand-new collection of commemorative trading cards! The eight-card set was created with our pilots and celebrates our most iconic modern liveries.

    It’s been over a decade since new Alaska Airlines trading cards debuted, and several years since they’ve been distributed from the flight deck. The cards, previously printed on cardstock, now feature a holographic film and lenticular coating, transforming a printed aircraft image into a multi-dimensional experience.

    Originally designed to inspire future aviators, our trading cards have become a favorite among collectors and aviation enthusiasts alike. Their recent resurgence is largely thanks to our pilots, including Scott Day, system chief pilot for Hawaiian Airlines (previously for Alaska Airlines), who’ve been eager to share them with young travelers once again.

    “It’s nice for someone — especially a kid — to leave the flight with something meaningful, whether it’s a memory, a set of wings, or, in this case, a one-of-a-kind card. These cards are not just cool keepsakes, but also educational tools, with each one featuring details about the aircraft and its unique story.”

    – Scott Day

    System Chief Pilot for Hawaiian Airlines (previously for Alaska Airlines)

    Day believes every interaction between crew members and young passengers is an opportunity to ignite a passion for aviation. For many pilots, this initial childhood encounter sparked their interest and set them on the path to the flight deck.

    “When recruiting and interviewing pilots, one of the fun questions we like to ask is, ‘How did you first become interested in flying? What was the first spark for you?’ A common response we hear is that they were invited to sit in the pilot’s seat as a kid. That small spark meant everything to them and was what set them on their journey,” he explained.

    The first Alaska Airlines trading cards were produced in the 1990s and have undergone multiple redesigns over the decades to reflect our evolving fleet. As more cards circulated among travelers, their popularity grew, making the collectibles even more sought after.

    “These cards are cherished tokens for anyone who has flown with Alaska,” Day said. “They were very popular back in the day, and they’re even more popular now thanks to social media.”

    Want to know if your pilot is carrying a set of trading cards?

    Just ask. Cards may not always be available, as limited quantities are produced at a time and are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

    N933AK Alaska Airlines Trading Card
    N710AL Alaska Airlines Trading Card
    N806AK Alaska Airlines Trading Card
    N559AS Alaska Airlines Trading Card
    N933AK Alaska Airlines Trading Card
    N492AS Alaska Airlines Trading Card
    N487AS Alaska Airlines Trading Card
    N559AS Alaska Airlines Trading Card
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    Alaska Airlines newest livery, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Flyer, celebrates the spirit of adventure and dreaming big

    Summary

    Alaska Airlines unveiled its newest Disneyland Resort-themed aircraft, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Flyer, featuring a vibrant livery inspired by “The Princess and the Frog” and the upcoming Tiana’s Bayou Adventure attraction at Disneyland Park.

    This marks Alaska’s ninth Disneyland-themed aircraft and its first to feature a Disney Princess, launching just in time for the Disneyland Resort 70th Celebration, which begins May 16, 2025.

    Alaska Airlines is inviting guests to embrace adventure and dream big with its newest themed and most enchanting aircraft, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Flyer.

    In collaboration with the Disneyland Resort, Alaska Airlines unveiled the vibrant new livery at Portland International Airport before it soared into its first sky-high adventure to Santa Ana, California. Inspired by “The Princess and the Frog” from Walt Disney Animation Studios, the design captures Princess Tiana’s adventurous spirit. It also celebrates the latest chapter in the princess and entrepreneur’s story of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, the exhilarating water-based attraction and music filled journey at Disneyland Park in Anaheim.

    The Boeing 737-800 features a stunning exterior showcasing Princess Tiana, paying homage to her inspiring story and immersive Tiana’s Bayou Adventure experience at Disneyland. The intricate design took artists more than 2,000 hours to paint, with joyful touches showing Louis the Alligator splashing among the water lilies on the bayou, a brilliant trail of friendly fireflies flowing from the plane’s nose to tail, and Mama Odie and Prince Naveen pictured on the winglets. For fun onboard, kids may enjoy Tiana’s Bayou Adventure snack pack for purchase beginning this summer, while supplies last.

    “Every journey should be as magical as the destination, and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Flyer brings that wonder to the skies in a way that perfectly complements our commitment to creating remarkable journeys. This aircraft captures Princess Tiana’s love for exploration and adventure, inspiring our guests to embrace new possibilities and create memories along the way.”

    – Eric Edge

    Vice President of Brand and Marketing, Alaska Airlines

    Family with luggage

    This design marks Alaska Airlines’ ninth Disneyland Resort-themed aircraft—and its first to feature a Disney Princess. Guests will be able to fly aboard Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Flyer (tail number N596AS), throughout Alaska’s route network for the next several years, making every journey an enchanting experience and where every adventure will take flight.

    For more than 25 years, Alaska Airlines and Disneyland Resort have collaborated to bring magic and happiness to the skies,” said Sybil Crum, vice president of marketing and commercial strategy at Disneyland Resort. “As Disneyland Resort prepares to celebrate its 70th anniversary, this latest addition honors our legacy and looks ahead to a bright future with Princess Tiana leading the way.”

    AIrplan over LAX
    Family with luggage

    Photos by Joe Nicholson & Molly Smith, Alaska Airlines

    Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Flyer arrives just in time for the Disneyland Resort 70th Celebration, which begins May 16, 2025, and runs through summer 2026, honoring seven decades of happiness and many moments of joy in the making. The celebration includes limited-time entertainment, colorful décor, themed food and beverages, and more. Disneyland Resort is a premier destination for Alaska Airlines passengers visiting Southern California.

    The newest livery joins a lineup of Alaska’s beloved Disneyland Resort -themed liveries, including “Mickey’s Toontown Express,” which pictures playful images of Mickey and Minnie Mouse along with their friends, Goofy, Pluto and Donald & Daisy Duck at Mickey’s Toontown in Disneyland Park; the space-black “Star Wars Transport to the Disneyland Resort” livery that celebrates Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disneyland Park; and “Friendship and Beyond at Disneyland Resort,” which portrays larger-than-life versions of Woody, Buzz Lightyear and Jessie in Pixar Pier at Disney California Adventure Park.

    For our media kit, including downloadable images and b-roll, click here.

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    Alaska Air Group reports first quarter 2025 results

    Summary

    Led the industry in domestic unit revenue performance

    Ratified two agreements with Alaska and Hawaiian flight attendants represented by AFA

    Generated operating cash flow of $459 million

    Repurchased $149 million in shares year-to-date

    Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK) today reported financial results for the first quarter ending March 31, 2025.

    Our team is executing well on integration milestones, cost performance, synergy capture and the initiatives that underpin the Alaska Accelerate plan. Our efforts to deliver $1 billion in incremental profit by 2027 are off to a strong start.

     

    Alaska is built for times like these with our relentless focus on safety, care and performance. Amid the economic uncertainty, our teams controlled what they can control and delivered results that strengthen our foundation for the long term. We’re growing scale, relevance and loyalty in our hubs, we’re already recognizing synergies from the combination with Hawaiian Airlines, and our employees have never been more engaged and excited about our future. Between the progress on our Alaska Accelerate strategic plan and the resilient business model we’ve built over decades, Alaska is well positioned to thrive in the years ahead.

    – Ben Minicucci

    President & CEO of Alaska Air Group

    Quarter in Review

    Air Group’s Consolidated Statement of Operations, Consolidated Balance Sheets, and Summary Cash Flow include Hawaiian Airlines from September 18, 2024 onward. For comparability of financial and operational results, historical information has also been provided on a pro forma basis within the Supplementary Combined Comparative Operating Information in this filing and in prior 8-K filings. The pro forma information provided assumes Hawaiian is included in both 2024 and 2025.

    Our Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) pretax margin for the first quarter was (7.4)%, with a GAAP net loss per share of $1.35. On an adjusted basis, our pretax margin was (4.5)%, with a net loss per share of $0.77. While macroeconomic factors and a softening demand environment began to negatively impact our results in February, we still delivered a 7 point year-over-year improvement to our adjusted pretax margin on a pro forma basis.

    Air Group capacity grew 3.9% during the quarter, approximately 1 point higher than expected, reflecting lower than expected flight cancellation rates. Total revenue grew 9.0% year-over-year, with unit revenue up 5.0% year-over-year — a result we believe will lead the industry, despite a 3 point impact from softening demand. Premium revenue remains resilient, up 10% year-over-year, and our loyalty program cash remuneration grew 12% year-over-year. Our revenue results reflect progress on key initiatives, such as network changes and synergies which are tracking in line with expectations.

    Unit costs increased 2.1% year-over-year. This cost performance is in line with our expectations, and inclusive of the new Alaska flight attendant contract, which was ratified in February. Economic fuel price per gallon was $2.61 in the first quarter, reflecting moderating crude oil prices offset by elevated West Coast refining margins.  

    Our consolidated results reflect strong initial progress on the integration of Hawaiian Airlines, and the synergies it unlocks. We are realizing benefits from our combined network, improved asset utilization and greater connectivity for our guests. In the first quarter, Hawaiian unit revenue increased 8.8% year-over-year, and Hawaiian’s adjusted pretax margin improved 14 points.

     

    Second Quarter Forecast Information

    For the second quarter of 2025, we expect the following results. Although overall bookings have stabilized as we look forward, our guidance reflects approximately 6 points of revenue impact to the second quarter due to recent demand softness. Consistent with prior commentary and expectations, Q2 2025 faces the most cost pressure while unit costs are expected to improve sequentially through the second half of the year.

    Given recent economic uncertainty and volatility, we are not providing an update to our full year 2025 guidance. We are assessing a variety of scenarios, and expect to be solidly profitable in 2025 even if revenue remains pressured throughout the second half of the year. Absent the softer macroeconomic outlook, areas of our business within our control are performing well and in line with our prior expectations. We will provide further updates to full year guidance later this year.

     

    Financial Results

    Reported GAAP net loss for the first quarter of 2025 of $166 million, or $1.35 per share, which includes Hawaiian results, compared to net loss of $132 million, or $1.05 per share, for the first quarter of 2024, which does not include Hawaiian results.

    Reported net loss for the first quarter of 2025, excluding special items and other adjustments, of $95 million, or $0.77 per share, which includes Hawaiian results, compared to net loss of $116 million, or $0.92 per share, for the first quarter of 2024, which does not include Hawaiian results.

    On a pro forma basis, adjusted pretax loss improved $190 million from $330 million in the first quarter of 2024 to $140 million in the first quarter of 2025.

    Repurchased 1.8 million shares of common stock for approximately $107 million in the first quarter, with year-to-date repurchases totaling $149 million as of April 22, 2025.

    Generated $459 million in operating cash flow for the first quarter.

    Held $2.5 billion in unrestricted cash and marketable securities as of March 31, 2025.

    Operational Updates

    Ratified a three-year collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with Alaska’s more than 6,900 AFA-represented flight attendants, recognizing them for their contributions to the company’s success.

    Ratified a three-year extension of the existing CBA with Hawaiian’s more than 2,100 AFA-represented flight attendants. The extension includes Hawaiian flight attendants in the company’s Performance-Based Pay and Operational Performance Rewards programs, as well as other improved benefits.

    Reached a Tentative Agreement for an updated CBA with Horizon technicians, represented by AMFA.

    Expanded our combined fleet by eight aircraft during the quarter, adding four 737-9s, one 787-9, one E175, and two A330-300 freighters.

    Announced growth at our San Diego hub with three new nonstop routes to Phoenix, Chicago O’Hare, and Denver, as well as increased flight frequencies to Las Vegas, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, and San Jose to begin later this year.

    Integration Updates

    Enhanced loyalty program benefits by offering status matching and reciprocal mileage earn between our Mileage Plan and HawaiianMiles programs.

    Continued to bring our operations closer together by co-locating Alaska and Hawaiian stations in Los Angeles, New York JFK, Phoenix, and San Francisco in order to provide a more seamless travel experience for our guests.

    Completed co-location of Alaska and Hawaiian Air Cargo operations in four Hawaiian locations — Honolulu, Maui, Kona, and Līhuʻe.

    Unified cargo booking systems, allowing customers to book shipments across both networks more easily.

    Other Updates

    Introduced the Horizon Air Pilot Development Program in Hawai’i, the first of its kind in the state, providing students with a path to join Horizon Air while easing the financial burden of training costs.

    Announced investment in Loft Dynamics to develop the first hyper-realistic, full-motion Boeing 737 VR simulator, aiming to enhance pilot training and inform future training solutions across the industry.

    Named the best airline of 2025 by NerdWallet based on loyalty program value, elite status benefits, operational strength, and more.

    Named to Newsweek Reader’s Choice list of top 10 best airport lounges in the U.S., a recognition of our continued investment in the lounge experience for guests traveling through our hubs.

    The following table reconciles the company’s reported GAAP net loss per share (EPS) for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 to adjusted amounts.

    A conference call regarding the first quarter results will be streamed online at 8:30 a.m. PDT on April 24, 2025. It can be accessed at www.alaskaair.com/investors. For those unable to listen to the live broadcast, a replay will be available after the conclusion of the call.

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