Joe Sprague serves as CEO of Hawaiian Airlines.
Joe views serving in the role as a privilege and deep responsibility. With a focus on serving employees, guests, and communities in the islands, he is committed to delivering results that position Hawaiian strongly for the future as it combines with Alaska Airlines.
Spanning over three decades, Joe’s aviation career started with a job as a customer service agent for a small commuter airline in Alaska where he later flew as a commercial pilot. He also held multiple leadership positions with a large Anchorage-based regional airline and managed airline and air charter policy for a D.C.-based aviation trade association. He served at Alaska Airlines for over 17 years in a variety of increasingly senior leadership positions including senior vice president of external relations and vice president of marketing. He took a break from the airline industry in 2017 and 2018 to lead public policy and communications efforts for the Catholic Church in the state of Washington. He returned to Alaska Air Group in 2019 where he served for four years as president of Horizon Air, Alaska’s regional airline sister company. Joe and the Horizon team navigated the pandemic, a severe pilot shortage, and a major fleet transition while delivering industry leading operational results. He then transitioned to the role of Regional President, Hawai‘i/Pacific and has led the integration planning effort since the Alaska-Hawaiian combination was announced in December 2023.
Joe has a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and an executive MBA from the University of Washington. He serves on the board of Kenmore Air, an iconic Seattle-area float plane service and as board chair for Wings Airways, a longstanding Alaskan float plane tour operator. He and his wife, Jennifer, have two grown children.