Alaska Airlines and Paine Field go way back – all the way to the ’40s

UPDATE 1/22/19: We’re postponing our scheduled start of service from Paine Field until March 4, 2019. Our latest post has all the details. ORIGINAL POST 11/8/18: When we announced we’d be flying out of Paine Field Snohomish County Airport in Everett, Washington, we heard your cheers. What you may not realize is how loudly we’re cheering…

Is this the cutest animal in Australia? In search of the perfect ‘quokka selfie’ on Rottnest Island

My alarm clock started loudly chiming at 7 a.m. and I sprang out of bed with excitement. While I normally loathe the idea of waking up that early, the day I had been impatiently waiting for had finally arrived. Today … I’m finally exploring the idyllic Rottnest Island! Now if you’ve never heard of this…

Here’s why the Great Ocean Road should be on your Australia bucket list – and catch a ride with Qantas, Alaska’s Global Partner

What’s on your “Australia bucket list”? Many people might include snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef, seeing a koala or a kangaroo, and learning to surf in Sydney. While all of these experiences are indeed awesome, no Australia bucket list should be complete without driving the Great Ocean Road – one of the world’s most scenic…

Fashion flashback: Airline uniforms evolve through the years

After nearly two years of behind-the-scenes work, Alaska Airlines and Seattle couture designer Luly Yang will debut a modern West Coast-inspired uniform collection to our 23,000 employees across Air Group. Before the uniforms are unveiled Thursday, we wanted to take a moment to celebrate uniforms from decades past – from hot pants to Russian Cossack…

CEOs of Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines fly 1929 plane that has historical ties to both companies

Two aviation geeks met up last week to fly an old plane. That usually wouldn’t be noteworthy, except the pilots just happened to be Alaska Airlines CEO Brad Tilden and Hawaiian Airlines CEO Mark Dunkerley. And this exact aircraft – a 1929 Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker, tail number NC251M – has historical ties to both airlines.…

With Black Friday and Cyber Monday flight deals, flyers want to escape somewhere warm, alone

After a long weekend traditionally spent with family, people are ready to escape by the time Black Friday and Cyber Monday roll around. Starting Nov. 24, check alaskaair.com for Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales and score our best deals of the year on flights. Based on last year’s stats from alaskaair.com, we found that…

5 tips for people who have never flown to Hawaii

Since our first flight to Hawaii 10 years ago today, Alaska Airlines has learned a thing a two about flying across the Pacific Ocean.

A decade of aloha: Alaska celebrates 10 years of flying to Hawaii

Ten years ago today, a Boeing 737 landed in Honolulu and flight attendant Joanie Spring opened the cabin door to a new era for Alaska Airlines. Alaska’s inaugural hop across the Pacific to the Hawaiian Islands was a dream come true for longtime employees – and for guests who could use their Mileage Plan miles…

Havana inaugural isn’t Alaska’s first flight to Cuba

When Alaska Airlines began service to Havana on Jan. 5, it wasn’t the first time the airline had flown to Cuba. In the early 1970s, Alaska flew U.S. Military Airlift Command charter flights to the base at Guantanamo Bay, as well as charters to Caribbean locations such as Jamaica, Puerto Rico and Panama. Some of…

When merging cultures, here’s how Alaska Airlines and Virgin America are working to get it right

When Alaska Airlines and Virgin America announced plans to merge earlier this year, one of the biggest questions was how the two airlines would blend their distinct cultures. “Culture has been a real challenge in many mergers, so we’re working to do things differently,” said Ben Minicucci, Alaska President and COO who will also become…

Buying Boeing planes? How Alaska has done it for 50 years

Irv Bertram (pictured above) has handled the paperwork for Alaska’s aircraft purchases for the past four decades. In the 50 years Alaska Airlines has been buying and flying Boeing planes, acquiring aircraft has never been easier. First, the airline has the cash to buy jets fresh off the assembly line in Renton. Second, Alaska is…

Alaska Airlines wins Freedom Award from Department of Defense

Just in time for Independence Day, Alaska Airlines has won the 2016 Freedom Award. The honor was announced today by Secretary of Defense Ash Carter. The Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award is the highest recognition given to employers by the U.S. government for their support of National Guard and Reserve members. Only 15 companies…

Cole Cosgrove