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magnifying glass with dark circle in the middle.

Alaska Airlines invests in its people with $200 million in payouts and enhanced travel perks 

Alaska Airlines employees are wrapping up the week on a positive note, as our annual incentive payout brings the total payouts for Air Group Employees to $200 million for 2023.

Our company’s annual payout, called Performance Based Pay (PBP), is determined by our performance towards specific company-wide goals for safety, guest experience, sustainability and profit.  

Despite facing our share of headwinds last year, we once again delivered an excellent operation from start to finish. As a result, employees earned an above-target PBP payout for the third year in a row and 16th time in the 21-year history of PBP. This equates to more than 6 percent of most employees’ annual pay last year. 

Credit to our employees, who are the strength of our airline,” said CEO Ben Minicucci. “I am especially pleased that we exceeded our targets in both Safety and Guest Satisfaction, which directly reflect the care, attention to detail, and the quality of work that our people deliver every day.” 

Quick math:  

  • Our plan is generous and consistent, averaging 7.73% of annual pay over the past 10 years. If you make $50,000/year – that adds up to nearly an additional $39,000 total in 10 years.  
  • If you look at the last 15 years, those numbers are even more impressive, averaging 7.96% of annual pay, which is nearly an additional $60,000 total in 15 years for someone making $50,000/year. 

The PBP payout is in addition to the approximately $30 million in 2023 operational bonuses that employees earned for achieving monthly on-time and customer satisfaction goals. The combined monthly and annual 2023 payouts paid to employees totals $200 million. 

As an added way of saying thank you, we also awarded four one-way confirmed travel passes for every eligible employee at the company. These passes can be used anywhere throughout our network—like these new & exciting leisure destinations below 👇🏼

Employees asked for better travel perks, and we listened.  

While most airline programs offer travel privileges to parents and dependent children, we realized we had an opportunity to improve our program to reflect our diverse workforce with a variety of family structures. We already extend travel privileges to one spouse or partner as well as all dependent children plus two parents for every employee, and now we’re expanding the definition of loved ones.  

We are one of the first airlines to allow greater flexibility in who can access our employee travel program. Beginning this month, employees are able to designate up to two people in lieu of parents to enjoy their travel privileges. This means that employees can now extend any unused parent travel benefits privileges to adult children, friends, siblings or anyone special to them. What’s so special about this change is that the idea came directly from our employees.  

For the inaugural year of this expanded program, 43% of our employees have taken advantage of the change and added new loved ones to their travel privileges. 

More ways to fly  

In addition to unlimited standby travel, we are always looking for more ways to encourage our employees to take to the skies. On average, every year—including 2024—we gift our employees two roundtrip tickets anywhere Alaska flies.  

They can use these tickets to book important or celebratory trips well in advance. If employees don’t want to use these confirmed tickets, they’re now able to trade them in before they expire for Mileage Plan miles that can be used on Alaska or any of our airline partners.   

Speaking of miles, in honor of our 90th anniversary, we gifted each employee 90,000 miles – that’s enough for a roundtrip ticket anywhere in the world.   

A valuable part of our total rewards  

We love how much our employees love to travel and 2023 was a year for the record books. Here are some of the highlights:  

  • In 2023, 80% employees used their travel privileges to fly at least once. 53% of their spouses or domestic partners, 61% of their children and 37% of their parents also hitched a ride.  
  • On average, our employees are able to find a standby seat 75% of the time!  
  • The most popular employee destination outside of our hub cities were Spokane, WA, Phoenix and Las Vegas.    

Alaska Airlines creates Hawai‘i Community Advisory Board to deepen local ties

Summary

The Hawaiʻi Community Advisory Board (HICAB) will support Alaska’s ongoing commitment to developing a true and authentic understanding of Hawai‘i’s people and culture as the airline combines with Hawaiian Airlines – honoring the legacy and significance of this beloved brand and reinforcing Alaska’s expanded role in Hawai‘i.

New advisory board will enable a stronger connection with Hawai‘i communities.

In an effort to continue cultivating a deep and enduring relationship with local Hawai‘i communities, Alaska Airlines announced today the establishment of the Hawaiʻi Community Advisory Board (HICAB). The HICAB will support Alaska’s ongoing commitment to developing a true and authentic understanding of Hawai‘i’s people and culture as the airline combines with Hawaiian Airlines – honoring the legacy and significance of this beloved brand and reinforcing Alaska’s expanded role in Hawai‘i.

“For over four decades, we have had a Community Advisory Board in the state of Alaska to seek input from communities across the state. Over the years, this exchange of ideas and information has helped us remain deeply connected to communities across a vast region that, like in Hawai‘i, are uniquely reliant on air travel. The CAB functions to ensure that our business and service are informed by local needs. We have been proud to serve Hawai‘i for over 16 years, but we know we have more to learn and feel a great responsibility to serve the people of Hawai‘i for generations to come.”

– Ben Minicucci

CEO of Alaska Airlines

The 16-member HICAB represents Alaska Airlines guests in Hawai‘i by diversity of gender, ethnicity and industry sector, including non-profit, education, healthcare, business, tourism and agriculture. The board also ensures geographic diversity with members from each of the main Hawaiian Islands who will serve either two- or three-year staggered terms. The HICAB will be a corporate and community sounding board for Alaska in Hawai‘i, providing feedback and recommendations on Alaska’s business approaches and initiatives, local current events, and community investment needs.COO & Creative Director, Sig Zane Designs & SZKaiao Creative

Paula Akana

President & CEO, The Friends of ʻIolani Palace

Nāʻalehu Anthony

Founder, Palikū Documentary Films

Todd Apo

VP, Community Partnerships & Public Affairs, Hawai‘i Community Foundation

Rosie Davis

Executive Director, Huli Au Ola, Maui County Area Health Education Center (AHEC)

Stephanie Donoho

Administrative Director, Kohala Coast Resort Association

Art Gladstone

EVP & Chief Strategy Officer, Hawai‘i Pacific Health

Hōkūlani Holt

Director of Kahōkūala, Hawaiian Cultural Arts Institute, UH Maui College

Stephanie Iona

Community Outreach Manager, Kekaha Agriculture Association

Meli James

Cofounder, Mana Up

Valerie Janikowski

Program Administrator, Lānaʻi Kinaʻole

Kūhiō Lewis

CEO, Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement

Colbert Matsumoto

Chairman, Tradewind Group

Ben Rafter

President & CEO, Springboard Hospitality

Trisha Kēhaulani Watson-Sproat

President, Honua Consulting

Jayson Watts

Director of Environmental Health and Safety, Mahi Pono

Kūhaʻo Zane

COO & Creative Director, Sig Zane Designs & SZKaiao Creative

 “The HICAB will be instrumental in shaping the future of Alaska Airlines in Hawai‘i,” said Daniel Chun, Alaska Airlines Regional Vice President, Hawai‘i. “Their insights into our local community’s needs and preferences will guide our decision-making, ensuring that our services and initiatives not only resonate with Hawaiʻi residents, but also foster sustainable growth.”

For more information on Alaska’s combination with Hawaiian Airlines, visit our joint website at localcareglobalreach.com.

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Alaska Air Group reports fourth quarter and full year 2023 results 

Announced agreement to acquire Hawaiian Airlines

Achieved record annual operating revenue of $10.4 billion

Alaska Air Group Inc. (NYSE: ALK) today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2023.

Air Group’s 2023 accomplishments were significant,” said CEO Ben Minicucci. “I want to thank our people for delivering a reliable operation, industry-leading cost performance, and a strong 7.5% adjusted pretax margin. As we navigate early 2024, we remain steadfast in our commitment to safety, providing a premium experience for our guests, and delivering durable financial performance. I am also grateful for how the team has rallied together to demonstrate tremendous professionalism and care in the midst of a challenging start to 2024 for them and our guests. Alaska is a resilient company with a track record of operational excellence, and we are confident in the plans we have laid out to ensure that success moving forward.”

Financial Results:
  • Reported net loss for the fourth quarter and net income for the full year 2023 under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) of $2 million, or $0.02 per share, and $235 million, or $1.83 per diluted share. These results compare to net income for the fourth quarter and full year 2022 of $22 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, and $58 million, or $0.45 per diluted share.

  • Reported net income for the fourth quarter and full year 2023, excluding special items and mark-to-market fuel hedge accounting adjustments, of $38 million, or $0.30 per diluted share, and $583 million, or $4.53 per diluted share. These results compare to net income for the fourth quarter and full year 2022, excluding special items and mark-to-market fuel hedge accounting adjustments, of $118 million, or $0.92 per diluted share, and $556 million, or $4.35 per diluted share.

  • Generated an adjusted pretax margin of 7.5% for the full year 2023, among the highest in the industry.

  • Recorded $2.6 billion in operating revenue for the fourth quarter, and a record $10.4 billion for the full year 2023.

  • Reduced CASM excluding fuel and special items by 6.6% in the fourth quarter and 2.6% in the full year compared to 2022.

  • Generated $1.1 billion in operating cash flow for the full year 2023.

  • Repurchased approximately 2 million shares of common stock for $75 million in the fourth quarter, bringing total repurchases to approximately 3.5 million shares for $145 million for the full year 2023.

  • Recognized more than $400 million in bank card partner commissions in the fourth quarter and $1.6 billion for the full year 2023, representing a 13% year-over-year increase compared to the full year 2022.

  • Air Group employees earned $200 million of incentive pay in 2023 by achieving profitability, sustainability, operational, and safety targets. The payout represents more than three weeks of pay for most employees.

  • Received an investment grade credit rating of “Baa3” from Moody’s Investors Service, citing the Company’s “strong business profile and conservative financial policy.” 
Balance Sheet and Liquidity:
  • Ended the year with a debt-to-capitalization ratio of 46%, within the target range of 40% to 50%.

  • Repaid $40 million in debt in the fourth quarter, bringing total debt payments to $282 million for the full year 2023.
Operational Updates:
  • Agreed to purchase Hawaiian Airlines for $18 per share in cash. The proposed combined airline will preserve both the Alaska and Hawaiian brands and provide guests with an expanded network across the Pacific.

  • Placed our first 737-800 freighter into operating service, with a second 737-800 freighter expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2024.

  • Announced Alaska’s 30th global airline partner, Porter Airlines, opening new opportunities for guests to travel to Canada from the West Coast.

  • Announced new routes beginning in 2024, including: Seattle-Toronto, Anchorage-New York JFK, Anchorage-San Diego, and Portland-Nashville.

  • Enhanced partnership with Condor Airlines with a bilateral codeshare agreement that enables Alaska and Condor to sell each other’s flights.

  • Completed sale of ten Airbus A321neos to American Airlines, with eight transactions occurring in the fourth quarter and two in January.

  • Introduced inflight contactless payment Tap to Pay, an industry first, providing customers with an easier option to make purchases while flying.
737-9 MAX Grounding:
  • Preparing to complete the final inspections on all of our 737-9 MAX aircraft. Each aircraft will be returned to service after the inspection has been completed and any findings resolved.

  • Completed requested inspections of all 737-900ER aircraft with only one minor finding which was immediately corrected.

  • Initiated a thorough review of Boeing’s production quality and control systems, including Boeing’s production vendor oversight to enhance quality control on new aircraft.

  • Began enhanced quality oversight program at the Boeing production facility, expanding our team to validate work and quality of our aircraft as they progress through the manufacturing process.
Environmental, Social, and Governance Updates:
  • Partnered with climate-tech company CHOOOSE to offer guests the ability to purchase sustainable aviation fuel credits or support nature-based climate projects upon check-out.

  • Through Alaska’s Care Miles program, Mileage Plan members donated over 100 million miles to 22 different charities in 2023.
Awards and Recognition:
  • Named Worldwide Airline of the Year by the Centre for Aviation at the World Aviation Summit in Abu Dhabi.

  • Achieved a score of 100 on the Human Rights Foundation’s 2023-2024 Corporate Equity Index in recognition of Alaska’s policies and practices supporting LGBTQ+ workplace equality.
View full financial data

Alaska Air Group announces webcast of fourth-quarter 2023 financial results

Alaska Air Group Inc. (NYSE: ALK), the parent company of Alaska Airlines Inc. and Horizon Air Industries Inc., will hold its quarterly conference call to discuss 2023 fourth quarter financial results at 11:30 a.m. EDT/ 8:30 a.m. PDT, Thursday, January 25, 2024. A webcast of the call will be available to the public at www.alaskaair.com/investors. An archive of the call will be posted on the website later that morning.

Alaska Airlines adds new nonstop flight between Seattle and Toronto   

It’s the first time we’ll connect our home airport to Canada’s largest city 

Alaska Airlines is announcing new service this spring to a dynamic Canadian destination our guests are going to love: We’ll begin daily nonstops between Seattle and Toronto starting on May 16, 2024, with convenient departure and arrival times. Tickets are available for purchase now at alaskaair.com. 

Toronto is the largest city in Canada along the shores of Lake Ontario. It’s a brand-new destination for us from our home airport in Seattle. For visitors, the possibilities are endless in Toronto with its bustling downtown and walkable neighborhoods, stunning parks, rich history and diverse restaurants and entertainment. 

“We’re always focused on better connecting the Pacific Northwest with additional nonstops in our network,” said Kirsten Amrine, vice president of revenue management and network planning for Alaska Airlines. “There’s a strong desire by our guests for a Seattle-Toronto flight that connects a pair of exciting cities not only for leisure travel but also links key business centers between the U.S. and Canada.” 

New Seattle-Toronto nonstop service 

Route Start Date Departs Arrives Frequency Aircraft 
Seattle – Toronto May 16, 2024 7:00 a.m. 2:40 p.m. Daily 737-900 
Toronto – Seattle May 16, 2024 3:40 p.m. 5:55 p.m. Daily 737-900 
Times are local 

Toronto will be the sixth Canadian city we fly to, in addition to Calgary, Edmonton, Kelowna, Vancouver and Victoria. 

This isn’t the first time we’ve flown to eastern Canada from the West Coast. In the early 90’s, we flew nonstop service between Los Angeles and Toronto. 

In December, we announced our 30th global airline partnership with Porter Airlines, a growing Canadian carrier that’s based in Toronto. Alaska and Porter look to strengthen our partnership throughout 2024. Porter began new flights from Los Angeles to Toronto on Jan. 16, and will start new service between San Francisco and Toronto on Jan. 25. Those flights, along with flights connecting on Alaska across our West Coast network, can be purchased at alaskaair.com.  

 

Next steps with the Boeing 737-9 MAX and aircraft quality assurance

Updated on Jan. 13, 2024

Alaska Airlines began preliminary inspections this weekend on a group of our 737-9 MAX aircraft.  

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is requiring more data from Boeing before approving the manufacturer’s proposed inspection and maintenance instructions that will be used to conduct final inspections on all 737-9 MAX and safely return the planes to service. Up to 20 of our planes could undergo preliminary inspections. 

Moving forward 

Aviation safety is based on having multiple levels of quality control and safety assurance, much like system redundancies that are built into an aircraft for operational safety. Together, these layers have made the U.S. aviation industry the safest in the world. 

Last week’s incident involving Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 was an extremely sobering reminder that these layers require continuous strengthening and improvement. 

Boeing leadership has publicly said that this incident is the result of a “quality escape.” This week, we engaged in a candid conversation with Boeing’s CEO and leadership team to discuss their quality improvement plans to ensure the delivery of the highest quality aircraft off the production line for Alaska. 

We welcome and appreciate the FAA’s recently announced steps to audit and review all safety processes in the production of the 737-9 MAX aircraft, and more broadly at Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems, Boeing’s supplier that builds the fuselage for the planes. 

In addition to the FAA’s review and oversight, Alaska Airlines will initiate and enhance our own layers of quality control to the production of our airplanes:  

  • Our quality and audit team began a thorough review of Boeing’s production quality and control systems, including Boeing’s production vendor oversight, and will partner with our maintenance team on the design of enhanced processes for our own quality control over aircraft at Boeing.  
  • Starting this week, we will also enhance our own quality oversight of Alaska aircraft on the Boeing production line, expanding our team with additional experienced professionals to validate work and quality on the Boeing 737 production line.  

Over many decades, we have cultivated a strong partnership with Boeing. With a commitment to transparency and candor, we are dedicated to working together to uphold the utmost quality and safety of our airplanes for our employees and guests.

Information about Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 and our 737-9 MAX fleet

Overview:

Flight 1282:

On Friday, Jan. 5, 2024, Alaska Airlines temporarily grounded its fleet of 65 737-9 MAX after a door plug detached during flight 1282 from Portland, OR to Ontario, CA. This was a harrowing flight for our guests and crew, and we’re grateful that all individuals have been medically cleared.

Quality Control:

Alaska Airlines will initiate and enhance our own layers of quality control to the production of our airplanes. Learn more.

For Impacted Guests:

For guests whose flights have been impacted, we encourage them to visit alaskaair.com for self-service options. We apologize to those who have been inconvenienced as we work to reaccommodate everyone as quickly as possible.

A  flexible travel policy  remains in place systemwide. You may change or cancel your flight. If your flight has been canceled, please follow these rebooking instructions.

For Media

News outlets can get in touch with our media relations team by using the contact info below.

newsroom@alaskaair.com

Latest update: 10 a.m. Pacific, Aug. 5, 2024

Alaska Airlines statement regarding this week’s NTSB hearing

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its preliminary report today, Feb. 6, involving Alaska Airlines Flight 1282. This is part of the NTSB’s established process during an investigation that it continues to lead.

Alaska’s safety and technical representatives, along with Boeing representatives, remain in close contact with the NTSB. Since this remains an ongoing investigation, we are limited in the details we can release or confirm. We defer questions to the NTSB.

Safety is always our top priority. As this investigation moves forward, we have full confidence in the safety of our operation and aircraft.

View more updates

1 p.m. Pacific, Feb. 6, 2024

NTSB issues preliminary report on Alaska Flight 1282

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its preliminary report today, Feb. 6, involving Alaska Airlines Flight 1282. This is part of the NTSB’s established process during an investigation that it continues to lead.

Alaska’s safety and technical representatives, along with Boeing representatives, remain in close contact with the NTSB. Since this remains an ongoing investigation, we are limited in the details we can release or confirm. We defer questions to the NTSB.

Photos by Ingrid Barrentine / Alaska Airlines

9:30am Pacific. January 26, 2024

Our first 737-9 MAX planes return to service as final inspections continue

Alaska Airlines has completed final inspections on our first group of 737-9 MAX aircraft as we move forward to return the fleet to commercial service. We’ll resume flying the 737-9 MAX with Flight 1146 from Seattle to San Diego on Friday afternoon, Jan 26.

On Jan. 24, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved the detailed inspection and maintenance process for the 737-9 MAX to return to flying. Our Alaska technicians began the inspections that night. We expect inspections on our 737-9 MAX to be completed by the end of next week, allowing us to operate our full flight schedule.

Each of our 737-9 MAX will return to service only after the rigorous inspections are completed and each plane is deemed airworthy according to FAA requirements. The individual inspections are expected to take up to 12 hours per aircraft.

We remain extremely grateful to our skilled Maintenance and Engineering team that is shouldering the inspection work and safely returning the planes to service, along with gratitude to all our employees who continue to help support our guests.

8 a.m. Pacific, Jan. 25, 2024

Final inspections of our 737-9 MAX fleet underway to safely return the aircraft to service

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024, approved a thorough inspection and maintenance process for the 737-9 MAX aircraft. Alaska Airlines is now performing these detailed inspections of our planes.

Each of our aircraft will only return to service once the rigorous inspections are completed and each aircraft is deemed airworthy according to the FAA requirements. We have 65 737-9 MAX in our fleet. The inspections are expected to take up to 12 hours for each plane.

Following these inspections by our skilled Alaska Maintenance technicians, we expect to bring our first few planes back into scheduled commercial service on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024.

At the request of the FAA, our Maintenance technicians completed preliminary inspections on 20 of our 737-9 MAX aircraft two weeks ago. The data we collected was provided to the FAA for further analysis. Those findings informed the FAA’s final orders for thorough inspections of the door plug on each of our 737-9 MAX aircraft. We are now implementing those final orders.

With the first of our 737-9 MAX set to resume flying on Friday, we’ll add more planes back into service every day as inspections are completed and each aircraft is deemed airworthy. We expect inspections on all our 737-9 MAX to be completed over the next week.

We greatly appreciate the FAA’s diligence and commitment to safety to get the 737-9 MAX safely back in the air.

5 p.m. Pacific, Jan. 20, 2024

Our Maintenance and Engineering technicians completed preliminary inspections of a group of our 737-9 MAX aircraft as requested by the FAA. We provided the data to Boeing, which will share it with the FAA for further analysis and consultation.

We’re awaiting the next steps based on this collection of new information, including the final inspection orders so we can begin safely returning our planes to service.

The ongoing grounding of the 737-9 MAX continues to impact our operations with all 737-9 MAX paused. This remains a dynamic situation and we greatly appreciate the patience of our guests. We are notifying those whose flights are canceled and working to reaccommodate them. We also have a Flexible Travel Policy in effect.

Alaska has 65 737-9 MAX planes in our fleet of 231 737 aircraft.

10 a.m. Pacific, Jan. 18, 2024

Our Maintenance and Engineering technicians completed preliminary inspections of a group of our 737-9 MAX aircraft as requested by the FAA. We provided the data to Boeing, which will share it with the FAA for further analysis and consultation.

We’re awaiting the next steps based on this collection of new information, including the final inspection orders so we can begin safely returning our planes to service.

The ongoing grounding of the 737-9 MAX continues to have a tremendous impact on our operation. We’ve extended the cancellations of our 737-9 MAX flights through Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024. This remains a dynamic situation and we greatly appreciate the patience of our guests. We are notifying those whose flights are canceled and working to reaccommodate them. We also have a Flexible Travel Policy in effect.

Each day of 737-9 MAX cancellations for Alaska impacts between 110 to 150 flights, depending on the flight schedule for a given day. Our sister regional carrier, Horizon Air, continues to help get our guests to their destinations by flying some routes that Alaska would normally fly with the 737-9 MAX.

Alaska has 65 737-9 MAX planes in our fleet of 231 737 aircraft.

12:15 p.m. Pacific, Jan. 17, 2024

Our Maintenance and Engineering technicians completed preliminary inspections of a group of our 737-9 MAX aircraft as requested by the FAA. We provided the data to Boeing, which will share it with the FAA for further analysis and consultation.

We’re awaiting the next steps based on this collection of new information, including the final inspection orders so we can begin safely returning our planes to service.

The ongoing grounding of the 737-9 MAX continues to have a tremendous impact on our operation. We’ve extended the cancellations of our 737-9 MAX flights through Friday, Jan. 19, 2024. This remains a dynamic situation and we greatly appreciate the patience of our guests. We are notifying those whose flights are canceled and working to reaccommodate them. We also have a Flexible Travel Policy in effect.

Each day of 737-9 MAX cancellations for Alaska impacts between 110 to 150 flights, depending on the flight schedule for a given day. Our sister regional carrier, Horizon Air, continues to help get our guests to their destinations by flying some routes that Alaska would normally fly with the 737-9 MAX.

Alaska has 65 737-9 MAX planes in our fleet of 231 737 aircraft.

7:20 p.m. Pacific, Jan. 13, 2024

Alaska Airlines began preliminary inspections this weekend on a group of our 737-9 MAX aircraft.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is requiring more data from Boeing before approving the manufacturer’s proposed inspection and maintenance instructions that will be used to conduct final inspections on all 737-9 MAX and safely return the planes to service. Up to 20 of our planes could undergo preliminary inspections.

Moving forward

Aviation safety is based on having multiple levels of quality control and safety assurance, much like system redundancies that are built into an aircraft for operational safety. Together, these layers have made the U.S. aviation industry the safest in the world.

Last week’s incident involving Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 was an extremely sobering reminder that these layers require continuous strengthening and improvement.

Boeing leadership has publicly said that this incident is the result of a “quality escape.” This week, we engaged in a candid conversation with Boeing’s CEO and leadership team to discuss their quality improvement plans to ensure the delivery of the highest quality aircraft off the production line for Alaska.

We welcome and appreciate the FAA’s recently announced steps to audit and review all safety processes in the production of the 737-9 MAX aircraft, and more broadly at Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems, Boeing’s supplier that builds the fuselage for the planes.

In addition to the FAA’s review and oversight, Alaska Airlines will initiate and enhance our own layers of quality control to the production of our airplanes:

  • Our quality and audit team began a thorough review of Boeing’s production quality and control systems, including Boeing’s production vendor oversight, and will partner with our maintenance team on the design of enhanced processes for our own quality control over aircraft at Boeing.
  • Starting this week, we will also enhance our own quality oversight of Alaska aircraft on the Boeing production line, expanding our team with additional experienced professionals to validate work and quality on the Boeing 737 production line.

Over many decades, we have cultivated a strong partnership with Boeing. With a commitment to transparency and candor, we are dedicated to working together to uphold the utmost quality and safety of our airplanes for our employees and guests.

6 p.m. Pacific, Jan. 12, 2024

Today, the FAA communicated its instructions for preliminary inspections of some of our 737-9 MAX aircraft.

Data collected from these inspections will inform the FAA’s ultimate issuance of a global Method of Compliance (MOC) and the process to complete inspections of the full fleet – a required step to safely return the aircraft to service. Read more from the FAA here.

Alaska has 231 737 aircraft in our fleet. 65 of those planes are 737-9 MAX.

Additional 737-9 MAX flight cancellations through Tuesday

With the grounding of the 737-9 MAX still in place, we’ve made another difficult decision to cancel additional flights that were scheduled with that aircraft.

We’re working as quickly as we can to notify our guests of cancellations through Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024. This equates to between 110-150 flights per day. The decision allows us to give our guests further clarity and begin notification and reaccommodation processes.

More information for impacted travelers can be found at the bottom of this page.

We’ll begin repositioning some of our 737-9 MAX aircraft for inspection

In the coming days, we will begin repositioning designated 737-9 MAX aircraft to our primary maintenance bases. This will allow us to perform the required inspections as soon as the approvals are given. Key points to keep in mind:

  • Any 737-9 MAX maintenance flying is authorized and permitted under the FAA’s Emergency Airworthiness Directive.
  • These special flight permits are not new or unique. They are a regular activity in aviation.
  • Flights are flown by our specially trained functional check flight crews.
  • No passengers or flight attendants will be on the maintenance flights.
  • These flights will be designated with a four-digit flight number beginning with a 9, such as AS 9834.

Horizon Air helps keep our guests moving

During the grounding of the 737-9 MAX, Alaska’s sister regional carrier Horizon Air is helping to get our guests to where they need to go.

Through Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, nearly 5,000 guests will fly on 90 flights to destinations across our network on a Horizon E-175 jet instead of a 737-9 MAX aircraft they were originally scheduled to be on.

Horizon even recently flew a nonstop flight to Dallas-Ft. Worth – an airport the airline does not usually serve. The airline also added 23 flights to and from Las Vegas for the popular CES conference this week.

10 a.m. Pacific, Jan. 12, 2024

As of today, Friday, Jan. 12, Alaska Airlines continues to wait for documentation from Boeing and the FAA to begin inspection of our 737-9 MAX fleet.

We regret the significant disruption that has been caused for our guests by cancellations due to these aircraft being out of service. However, the safety of our employees and guests is our highest priority and we will only return these aircraft to service when all findings have been fully resolved and meet all FAA and Alaska’s stringent standards.

We have made the decision to cancel all flights on 737-9 MAX aircraft through Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, while we conduct inspections and prepare fully for return to service. This equates to between 110-150 flights per day. We hope this action provides guests with a little more certainty, and we are working around the clock to reaccommodate impacted guests on other flights. More information for impacted travelers can be found at the bottom of this page.

As a reminder, three things must be in place prior to beginning inspections:

  • A final Multi-Operator Message (MOM) provided by Boeing, providing inspection details for the 737-9 MAX aircraft as approved by the FAA.
  • A global Method of Compliance (MOC) published by the FAA with details for approval of operators’ inspection processes to ensure compliance with their Airworthiness Directive. As a party to the NTSB investigation, the FAA works to ensure that inspection details address findings that may have surfaced during this process, even if not yet shared with the public.
  • Detailed inspection instructions and processes developed by Alaska Airlines for our maintenance technicians to follow to conduct thorough inspections per the FAA’s specifications.

10 a.m. Pacific, Jan. 10, 2024

As of today, Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, Alaska Airlines continues to wait for documentation from Boeing and the FAA to begin inspection of our 737-9 MAX fleet.

We regret the significant disruption that has been caused for our guests by cancellations due to these aircraft being out of service. However, the safety of our employees and guests is our highest priority and we will only return these aircraft to service when all findings have been fully resolved and meet all FAA and Alaska’s stringent standards.

As of this morning, we have made the decision to cancel all flights on 737-9 MAX aircraft through Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, while we conduct inspections and prepare fully for return to service. This equates to between 110-150 flights per day. We hope this action provides guests with a little more certainty, and we are working around the clock to reaccommodate impacted guests on other flights. More information for impacted travelers can be found at the bottom of this page.

As a reminder, three things must be in place prior to beginning inspections:

  • A final Multi-Operator Message (MOM) provided by Boeing, providing inspection details for the 737-9 MAX aircraft as approved by the FAA.
  • An Alternate Method of Compliance (AMOC) published by the FAA with details for approval of operators’ inspection processes to ensure compliance with their Airworthiness Directive. As a party to the NTSB investigation, the FAA works to ensure that inspection details address findings that may have surfaced during this process, even if not yet shared with the public.
  • Detailed inspection instructions and processes developed by Alaska Airlines for our maintenance technicians to follow to conduct thorough inspections per the FAA’s specifications.

We will continue to provide updates as progress is made.

12:45 p.m. Pacific, Jan. 9, 2024

We continue to await inspection and maintenance instructions from Boeing and approval for the procedures from the FAA. Until then, the Boeing 737-9 MAX fleet will remain grounded.

When we are able to proceed with the formal inspection process, all aircraft will be thoroughly inspected in accordance with detailed instructions provided by the FAA in consultation with Boeing. Any findings will be fully addressed in a matter that satisfies our safety standards and FAA compliance. The formal inspections will also require documenting all findings and those will be reported to the FAA. No aircraft will be returned to service until all of these steps are complete. The safety of these aircraft is our priority and we will take the time and steps necessary to ensure their airworthiness, in close partnership with the FAA.

As these steps remain pending, we continue to experience disruption to our operation with these aircraft out of service. As of 12:30 pm. Pacific, we have cancelled roughly 109 flights for today due to the 737-9 MAX grounding.

6:50 p.m. Pacific, Jan. 8, 2024

We continue to wait for final documentation from Boeing and the FAA before we can begin the formal inspection process.

As our maintenance technicians began preparing our 737-9 MAX fleet for inspections, they accessed the area in question. Initial reports from our technicians indicate some loose hardware was visible on some aircraft.

When we are able to proceed with the formal inspection process, all aircraft will be thoroughly inspected in accordance with detailed instructions provided by the FAA in consultation with Boeing. Any findings will be fully addressed in a matter that satisfies our safety standards and FAA compliance. The formal inspections will also require documenting all findings and those will be reported to the FAA. No aircraft will be returned to service until all of these steps are complete. The safety of these aircraft is our priority and we will take the time and steps necessary to ensure their airworthiness, in close partnership with the FAA.

10 a.m. Pacific, Jan. 8, 2024

This morning, Boeing issued a multi-operator message (MOM) which provided inspection details for the 737-9 MAX aircraft, which have been approved by the FAA. Two additional steps must occur before inspections can begin:

  • FAA must approve operators’ inspection processes to ensure compliance (called an Alternate Method of Compliance, or AMOC);
  • Alaska must develop detailed inspection instructions and processes for our maintenance technicians to follow.

As we await further information from the FAA and work through these important steps, our technicians have prepared each aircraft to be immediately ready for the required inspection when instructions are finalized.

We recognize that additional questions remain about the details surrounding Flight 1282 that we are unable to address at this time. Because this is an active investigation, we must receive permission from the NTSB to provide information about the aircraft and its prior maintenance. We will provide information as soon as the NTSB permits us to do so.

As these steps remain pending, we continue to experience disruption to our operation with these aircraft out of service. As of 8:30 a.m. Pacific, we have cancelled roughly 140 flights for Monday due to the 737-9 MAX grounding.

6:30 p.m. Pacific, Jan. 7, 2024

While we await the airworthiness directive (AD) inspection criteria from the FAA and Boeing, our maintenance teams are prepared and ready to perform the required inspections of the mid exit door plugs on our 737-9 MAX fleet.

The 737-9 MAX grounding has significantly impacted our operation. We have cancelled 170 Sunday flights and 60 cancellations for Monday, with more expected. Cancellations will continue through the first half of the week, and we encourage guests with travel plans to continue to check their email and alaskaair.com for updates.

We will continue to share information as we’re able.

2:30 p.m. Pacific, Jan. 7, 2024

As we navigate the impacts of the 737-9 MAX grounding on our operation, we have cancelled 170 Sunday flights affecting roughly 25,000 guests. We expect additional significant cancellations through the first half of the week.

We are awaiting further instruction from both the FAA and Boeing to begin the required inspections on the door plug of our 737-9 MAX fleet and will share information as we’re able.

2:30 p.m. Pacific, Jan. 7, 2024

As we navigate the impacts of the 737-9 MAX grounding on our operation, we have cancelled 170 Sunday flights affecting roughly 25,000 guests. We expect additional significant cancellations through the first half of the week.

We are awaiting further instruction from both the FAA and Boeing to begin the required inspections on the door plug of our 737-9 MAX fleet and will share information as we’re able.

6 p.m. Pacific, Jan. 6, 2024

The investigation into what happened on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 on Friday, Jan. 5, 2024, is underway. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has now assumed the lead role in the investigation. Alaska’s safety and technical teams, along with representatives from Boeing, are closely involved in supporting the NTSB.

At this early stage, here are details that we can share:

  • As we shared last night, Alaska made the decision to temporarily ground its 737-9 MAX fleet pending inspections which began early this morning.
  • Today, the FAA issued an emergency airworthiness directive (EAD), requiring all operators of the 737-9 MAX aircraft to conduct specific inspections before returning the aircraft to service. We are working with the FAA to ensure that our inspections meet their detailed requirements and comply with the EAD, but this process will take more time.
  • Our voluntary temporary grounding of our 737-9 MAX fleet and ongoing work to comply with the FAA’s EAD has impacted travel plans for many of our guests. As of 4pm PT today, we have cancelled 160 total flights, affecting roughly 23,000 guests. We are identifying necessary cancellations for tomorrow and expect the disruption to last through at least mid-week. A flexible travel policy is in place for guests to change or cancel their flights. Guests should visit alaskaair.com for rebooking options. We are deeply sorry for the disruption this has caused our guests.
  • Eighteen of Alaska’s 737-9 MAX aircraft received in-depth inspections as part of heavy maintenance checks and continued in service today until we received the FAA’s EAD. These aircraft have now also been pulled from service until details about possible additional maintenance work are confirmed with the FAA. We are in touch with the FAA to determine what, if any, further work is required before these aircraft are returned to service.
  • The aircraft involved in flight 1282 was delivered to us on Oct. 31, 2023. The part of the aircraft involved in this event is called a plug door – a specific panel of the fuselage near the rear of the aircraft.
  • Several guests onboard experienced injuries that required medical attention. All guests have now been medically cleared.

We will continue to share information as we learn more. Thank you to our guests for their understanding as we safely return our fleet of 737-9 MAXs to service.

12:00 p.m. Pacific, Jan 6, 2024

Early this morning, our maintenance team began a detailed inspection process in connection with our decision to temporarily ground our fleet of Boeing 737-9 aircraft. Of the 65 737-9 aircraft in our fleet, it was determined that 18 had in-depth and thorough plug door inspections performed as part of a recent heavy maintenance visit. These 18 aircraft were cleared to return to service today.

The inspection process of the remaining 737-9 aircraft is expected to be completed in the next few days. We will provide additional updates on the progress of our inspections.

9:00 a.m. Pacific, Jan. 6, 2024

As of this morning, inspections on more than a quarter of our 737-9 fleet are complete with no concerning findings. Aircraft will return to service as their inspections are completed with our full confidence.

We deeply apologize to our guests whose flights have been impacted. Guests whose travel has been impacted can go online to view flight options and rebook travel, place the value of their ticket in their Mileage Plan Wallet for future use, or request a refund.

For Pacific Northwest Travelers: We’ve been receiving many questions from guests traveling to Texas. Flights on Saturday and Sunday from Seattle to Houston are not impacted. Return flights next week are also not affected.

11:42 p.m. Pacific time, Jan. 5, 2024

A statement from Alaska Airlines CEO, Ben Minicucci:

At Alaska Airlines, safety is our foundational value and the most important thing we focus on every day. Following tonight’s event on Flight 1282, we have decided to take the precautionary step of temporarily grounding our fleet of 65 Boeing 737-9 aircraft. Each aircraft will be returned to service only after completion of full maintenance and safety inspections. We anticipate all inspections will be completed in the next few days.

I am personally committed to doing everything we can to conduct this review in a timely and transparent way.

We are working with Boeing and regulators to understand what occurred tonight, and will share updates as more information is available. The NTSB is investigating this event and we will fully support their investigation.

My heart goes out to those who were on this flight – I am so sorry for what you experienced. I am so grateful for the response of our pilots and flight attendants. We have teams on the ground in Portland assisting passengers and are working to support guests who are traveling in the days ahead.

-Ben

7:55 p.m. Pacific time, Jan. 5, 2024

Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 from Portland, Oregon to Ontario, California, experienced an incident this evening soon after departure. The aircraft landed safely back at Portland International Airport with 171 guests and 6 crew members. The safety of our guests and employees is always our primary priority, so while this type of occurrence is rare, our flight crew was trained and prepared to safely manage the situation. We are investigating what happened and will share more information as it becomes available.

Timeline of 737-9 MAX return to service

Download PDF

The careful work we’re doing during the inspections

With the approval and direction of the FAA, Alaska technicians will begin the required, detailed inspections.

For the inspection process, the 737-9 MAX has two door plugs – one on the left-hand side of the plane and one on the right in the middle of the cabin. Both door plugs must be inspected according to the FAA-approved inspection guidance. We’ve put together a summary of the inspection checklist:

  • Before opening the mid-cabin door plug, we will confirm it was properly installed by ensuring all hardware is in place and all clearances are measured and recorded
  • We will then open the door plug and inspect for any damages or abnormalities to the door and seal components, including the guide fittings, roller guides and hinges, and inspect nut plates and fasteners
  • We will resecure each door plug and ensure it is sealed properly per approved FAA guidance before the aircraft is returned to service
  • Each inspection, including recording detailed measurements of hardware location, could take at least 12 hours for each aircraft

We’re grateful to our skilled maintenance and engineering team members who are undertaking the inspections and safely returning our fleet to service.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often will the door plugs on the 737-9 MAX be inspected in the future?

Our Maintenance and Engineering teams will continue to inspect the two door plugs at least every 24 months when each plane undergoes heavy maintenance checks as part of our standard protocol. In addition, we will inspect the door plugs on new 737-9 MAX aircraft we receive right after delivery.

What happens if a guest prefers not to fly a 737-9 MAX as the planes return to service?

We currently have a Flexible Travel Policy in place through Feb. 2 for our guests to make other travel arrangements. For guests who are not comfortable flying on a 737-9 MAX right now, we’ll work with them. If they request it, we can move them to a different flight on another aircraft. We take great pride in our customer service and want everyone to have a great flight.

How do I know if I’m scheduled to fly on a 737-9 MAX?

The aircraft type is shown in the “Details” tab when booking a flight on alaskaair.com. After booking, it’s found in the guest’s reservation under “Flight Details.”

How long has Alaska been flying the 737-9 MAX?

Our first 737-9 MAX flight was on March 1, 2021. It was a flight from Seattle to Los Angeles.

What’s the seating configuration of Alaska’s 737-9 MAX?

Our 737-9 MAX carries 178 passengers with a seating configuration of 16 First Class seats, 24 Premium Class seats and 138 seats in the main cabin.

A message from Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci

Our next steps with the Boeing 737-9 MAX and aircraft quality assurance.

Full Transcript

Hi everyone, I’m Ben Minicucci, CEO of Alaska Airlines.

On January 5, Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 was involved in an alarming incident when a door plug was ejected from the Boeing 737-9 MAX aircraft.

I am so incredibly grateful to the crew who responded with extraordinary professionalism and returned the flight and all aboard safely to Portland. And I sincerely apologize to everyone on board the flight for what you experienced.

That evening, I made the decision to voluntarily ground all our 737-9 MAX fleet, pending further information and inspection. The next day, the 737-9 MAX aircraft across the U.S. were grounded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

As a loyal guest of Alaska Airlines, I know these issues impact you, and you may have questions about what this means not just for your travel plans, but for the safety of you and your loved ones.

Please know there is nothing more important to all of us at Alaska Airlines than the safety of our employees, and you – our guests. Owning Safety is our number one foundational value, and one that is deeply personal. This value guides our actions today, and every day.

With that in mind, here is an update on what has transpired since last Friday – and some next steps:

  • We have 65 Boeing 737-9 MAX aircraft, which make up about 20% of our fleet. Since Alaska Airlines and the FAA have grounded these aircraft, that means we are canceling between 110 to 150 flights every day.
  • We will return these aircraft to service ONLY when all findings have been fully resolved and meet the stringent standards of Boeing, the FAA and Alaska Airlines.
  • With respect to the cancellations, I’ve asked our team to give guests as much advance notice as possible, and our Reservations team is working around the clock to re-accommodate people on other flights. To all who have been impacted by these disruptions, I am sorry. When you make plans, you put your trust in us, and we haven’t been able to deliver.

We’ve started inspections

  • Over the past week, I’ve spent time with our teams, including the excellent Maintenance & Engineering professionals in our Seattle hangar. They walked me through a 737-9 MAX aircraft that was prepared for inspection. I witnessed firsthand the rigor they bring to their work – how they pay attention to every detail and follow their processes to ensure the safety of our aircraft.
  • We began inspections on January 13, in response and according to the FAA’s instructions and we are making good progress.   The findings from these inspections, and those of other airlines, will be compiled by Boeing and FAA to determine the appropriate next steps in order to return the 737-9 MAX Fleet safely back to service. At this time, we do not yet know how long this process will take but will keep you updated as much as we can.

Additional actions we’re taking

  • Aviation safety is based on having multiple levels of quality control and safety assurance, much like system redundancies that are built into an aircraft for operational safety. Together, these layers have made the U.S. aviation industry the safest in the world.
  • Flight 1282 was an extremely sobering reminder that these layers require continuous strengthening and improvement.
  • We engaged in a candid conversation with Boeing’s CEO and leadership team to discuss their quality improvement plans to ensure the delivery of the highest quality aircraft off the production line to Alaska Airlines.
  • We welcome the FAA’s added review and oversight in response to this situation, and the specific steps that Boeing announced to strengthen quality controls and assurance in their operations.
  • In addition to these steps, Alaska Airlines will initiate and enhance our own layers of quality control to the production of our airplanes:
  • Last week, our quality and audit team began a thorough review of Boeing’s production quality and control systems, including Boeing’s production vendor oversight. They will partner with our maintenance team on the design of enhanced processes for our own quality control over aircraft at Boeing.
  • And, starting this week, we will enhance our own quality oversight of Alaska aircraft on the Boeing production line, adding more experienced professionals to the teams that validate work and quality on the  production line for the 737.
  • Alaska has flown Boeing aircraft since 1966. In the many decades since, we have cultivated a strong partnership with Boeing based on accountability, transparency and candor.
  • It’s on this foundation that we are dedicated to working together with Boeing to uphold the utmost quality and safety of our airplanes and for our employees and guests.
  • “Proudly all Boeing” is not just a tagline, it’s a commitment. It’s our pledge to you that when you choose an Alaska flight, the aircraft you are on is safe. And as the leader of this company, I’m putting all my energy toward ensuring this remains true.

Closing

  • In closing, I want to thank all of you for your patience and understanding through this difficult time. Thank you for your loyal support of our airline and thank you for being kind to our employees.
  • My personal thanks also to the Alaska and Horizon team members who are working long hours conducting inspections and navigating through disruptions in our operations while taking good care of all of you who are traveling.
  • Our collective commitment to safety is unwavering, and we will ensure we are even safer and stronger going forward.
  • Thank you.

Alaska Airlines takes delivery of first longer-range Boeing 737-8 

New aircraft is part of our strategic fleet plan that emphasizes growth 

Alaska Airlines continues to grow as we welcome delivery of the first Boeing 737-8 to our aircraft lineup – the next component of our strategic, long-term fleet plan that builds on our strengths and provides a road map for ongoing future success. 

We proudly fly the youngest fleet of all U.S. airlines, and from 2024 through 2027, we are on track to add 15-25 new Boeing aircraft each year. We currently have firm orders for 80 more 737 MAX aircraft, and options and purchase rights for another 105. Our first 737-10 is scheduled for delivery in 2025. 

The addition of the 737-8 and eventually the 737-10 to our fleet creates new opportunities for us to fly longer nonstop routes and maximize our revenue potential,” said Nat Pieper, senior vice president of fleet, finance and alliances at Alaska Airlines. “We have achieved terrific results with the 737-9 in guest satisfaction, economics and fuel efficiency, and we are excited for our future with the other 737 models.” 

In March 2022, Alaska adjusted our existing 737-9 aircraft order with Boeing to include the bigger 737-10 and longer-range 737-8. The additional 737 models will enhance profitability and guest satisfaction by offering us more ways to deploy the optimal aircraft size and capability in each market we fly.  

For example, we will add our new nonstop Anchorage-New York JFK seasonal route with the 737-8, launching June 13, 2024. Anchorage-JFK (at 3,386 miles) will become the longest flight Alaska operates, creating nonstop convenience between two of the most popular cities in our network. 

Alaska’s aircraft orders 

Model Delivered to date Target Mix Aircraft seats Role in Alaska’s fleet 
737-10 — 120-140 190 This model will be the largest, most efficient aircraft in our fleet 
737-9 65 80 178 Ideal aircraft for long-haul, high-demand routes 
737-8 1 20-40 159 Longest-range 737 best for high-performance and medium-sized markets 

Alaska is scheduled to take delivery of seven more 737-8s in 2024, with the next four slotted to enter the fleet in March. The 737-8, -9 and -10 all offer a common cockpit, common engines, and similar components.      

Alaska’s regional carrier, Horizon Air, also continues to grow its fleet of jets. Over the next three years, Horizon will add nine new Embraer E175s, bringing its total to 50 by the end of 2026. Alaska’s regional partner SkyWest also operates 42 E175s on our behalf. Our combined fleet size of mainline and regional jets is currently 310. 

Our guests will soon enjoy refreshed updates to our 737-800 aircraft. With modifications beginning in late 2024, we are investing $130 million to overhaul those cabins. 

“It’s more important than ever that we deliver a consistent product to our guests,” said Todd Traynor-Corey, managing director of guest products at Alaska Airlines. “The updates we’re making to our older Boeing aircraft will provide a more consistent guest experience on our Boeing fleet by making the cabins look and feel more like our 737-9 and 737-8 aircraft.”  

The enhancements to the -800s include a move to a 161-seat configuration with 16 seats in First Class and new seats in Premium Class and main cabin, all while maintaining the same space our guests are accustomed to right now.  

The new First Class seats feature a footrest and seatback device holder, allowing our guests to relax in industry-leading seat pitch that is worth talking about: We are the only U.S. airline with an average of 40” pitch in First Class and 35” in Premium Class across our mainline fleet. Guests can expect these same improvements to be featured on new 737-8 deliveries beginning in the second half of 2024 with retrofits coming to the first five aircraft at a later date.

Since modifications of the new configuration are expected to be completed in 2026, a subset of the -800s will receive a refresh of the existing cabin in the first half of this year to improve the guest experience.

Year in review: 2023 highlights at Alaska Airlines

2023 flew by! Here are some highlights and what we’re looking forward to next:

We’re excited to combine with Hawaiian Airlines.  

Combining our beloved brands will expand benefits and choice for travelers throughout Hawai’i and the West Coast, including connectivity across Asia, Oceania and the Pacific.

Learn more

We said goodbye to plastic cups for good.

In January, we started the year by transitioning from plastic to responsibly-sourced paper cups for inflight beverages, a move which eliminates more than 55 million plastic cups annually and replaces them with a more planet-friendly alternative. We began the process of eliminating our five largest sources of plastic waste in 2018 by removing plastic straws and stir sticks from inflight service – a first for any airline at the time. 

Learn more

Miles donated to CARE Miles nonprofits: 90,922,431+ 

Our CARE Miles program offers Mileage Plan™ members a unique and meaningful way to support important causes. Miles donated to this program help charities with business travel, accommodation of special organization requests and achievement of the organization’s mission.

In the weeks following the wildfires that devastated West Maui, Alaska helped transport 220,000 pounds of relief supplies to impacted communities and immediately sent rescue flights to help evacuees off the island and make room for recovery efforts. Alaska collaborated with long-time partner and local non-profit Kanu Hawaiʻi to distribute nearly 30 million miles — donated by Alaska, employees and guests — to those who needed support but could no longer afford the cost of flying.  To date, 544 impacted Maui residents were helped with these miles.

You can still donate: Contributions made to the Alaska Airlines Disaster Relief Pool through Dec. 31, 2023, will be donated to Kanu Hawaiʻi and Maui Rapid Response to provide travel support for Maui residents impacted by the wildfires.  Alaska will match the miles donated, up to one million miles.

Our new coffee blend fit for the skies is now brewing!  

In October, we launched a new custom coffee blend with Portland-based Stumptown Coffee Roasters, which will be on all flights by the end of the year. Plus, guests can sip Stumptown in our Portland and JFK Lounges. 

Our custom roast is available exclusively on all Alaska flights by Dec. 1, 2023. Plus, guests can sip Stumptown in our Portland and JFK Lounges where we’ll be proudly serving Stumptown’s Holler Mountain for our brewed coffee and Hair Bender in our hand-crafted espresso beverages. Trapper Creek will also be available as a decaf option. 

We increased global travel on alaskaair.com.

You can now book flights on 21 of our global airline partners on alaskaair.com, including American, Qantas, Air Tahiti Nui, Qatar, JAL, Iberia, Icelandair, Condor, Finnair.

We launched 23 new routes and 2 international destinations.

This year, we upped our route game! Guests can now fly to places like the Bahamas from Seattle and Los Angeles + Guatemala from Los Angeles, marking six countries that Alaska will fly to and from its West Coast hubs including, Canada, Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and the Bahamas. 

We also announced new flying from Anchorage to New York JFK and San Diego – that will start in 2024. At 3,386 miles, ANC-JFK will be the longest route in our network and the longest domestic flight in the industry using a 737.

Alaska Airlines begins flying nine new routes to popular vacation spots
New route alert! Alaska Airlines adds nonstop flight between Everett and Anchorage
The Caribbean is calling! Alaska Airlines adds new flights to the Bahamas
See the city pairs where we fly

We welcomed new aircraft.

Who doesn’t love that new airplane smell? This year, we updated our fleet with new 737-9 MAX aircraft. Plus, Horizon Air became an all-jet fleet, with new E175 aircraft after the retirement of the Q400.

Watch Behind The Scenes of our 737-9 Air-to-Air Photoshoot ⬆️

Custom designs: 4

Native artist Crystal Worl designs Alaska Airlines aircraft taking Indigenous language and art to the skies 

Cougs or Dawgs? Alaska Airlines unveils new aircraft in honor of Washington State University and the University of Washington

Alaska Airlines debuts new ‘Mickey’s Toontown’-themed airplane featuring Mickey Mouse and his pals at Disneyland Resort 

Cheese plates devoured: 850,454 

Our guests told us they enjoy our fresh food options but were eager for more! So, we increased the variety of our food offerings, from doubling the number of pre-order options in the main cabin to giving our First Class guests up to five different entrees to pick up on their flights. We also brought back some of guests’ favorites with our ‘Greatest Hits’ menu and are offering a nonalcoholic beer for the first time.

View our menu 

Pancakes printed in our Lounges: 615,584 

This summer, we welcomed lounge members and guests back to our popular D Concourse Lounge in Seattle with 50% more seating and improved amenities. Over the last five years, we’ve doubled the footprint of our Lounges and invested $30 million in improvements and remain focused on bringing you fresh upgrades and new amenities to make the spaces bigger and better than ever. 

Join Lounge 

Movies and TV shows watched in flight: 14,449,492 

Top Movies:

JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4
A MAN CALLED OTTO
1917
80 FOR BRADY
65

Top Series:

Schitt’s Creek
The Office
Family Guy
Parks and Recreation
The Last of Us

See what’s new on board 

We added 5 new airline partners—30 in total.

Porter Airlines, a growing Canadian carrier, begins its inaugural nonstop service between Toronto and both Los Angeles and San Francisco in January.STARLUX Airlines, a Taipei-based premium carrier, connects guests from Los Angeles to 16 amazing destinations across Southeast Asia and Japan.
 
Discover the East Coast’s stunning seaside destinations with Cape Air.Get on board with Kenmore Air to explore the San Juan Islands and British Columbia.Bahamasair can take you to pristine beaches in the Caribbean & beyond.

Learn more about our 30 worldwide airline partners to earn and redeem Mileage Plan™ miles and enjoy elite benefits along the way.

We’re enhancing the lobby & inflight experience.

We’re working on getting you through the lobby and to security in 5 minutes or less. Much like mobile technology widely used to access sporting events and concerts, your phone is all you need to fly through our lobby.

Over the next three years, we’re investing $2.5 billion in overall improvements to enhance the airport experience within our hubs and focus cities including Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Anchorage.

A sneak peek at what the future lobby will look like at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

We’re also the first airline to offer Tap to Pay on iPhone – giving our guests more options to pay inflight. You’re now able to tap-to-pay for your alcoholic beverage or snack pack with just a simple tap from your iPhone or Apple Watch using Apple Pay, other digital wallet, or contactless credit or debit card to pay – no more swiping!

We were named “Airline of the Year” ⭐️

Among other accolades, this year, we were named “Airline of the Year” by the Centre for Aviation at the World Aviation Summit in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 28. The CAPA Airline of the Year Award is awarded to the airline that has been the biggest standout strategically during the year, has had the greatest impact on the development of the airline industry, has established itself as a leader, and provided a benchmark for others to follow.  Here is some other recognition we’re proud of this year:

Alaska Airlines, NerdWallet’s 2023 winner for Best Airline Rewards Program
Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2023-2024 Corporate Equality Index
2023 Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion by the Disability Equality Index

Tips to plan for holiday travel

The holiday season is here! Which means, the start of (typically) the busiest and most stressful time to travel is upon us. We expect full aircraft, busy airports and lots of guests in the coming weeks.

Here are some tips to make your journey delightful every step of the way.

Traveling to/from Seattle?

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) anticipates this could be one of the busiest Thanksgiving travel periods in the airport’s history, with total foot traffic expected to be 11% higher than 2022. Travelers will notice more construction, part of Upgrade SEA improvement projects from curb to gate. Construction of a new ticketing area and a new security screening checkpoint has spillover impacts in ticketing and baggage claim areas across the airport. Enjoy lower stress through security, with Spot Saver.

Download our app to get your boarding pass & more

Use the Alaska Airlines mobile app to check in 24 hours before your flight and get your mobile boarding pass. Guests should check-in and get a boarding pass before heading to the airport via the app or online.

Our mobile app is the perfect travel companion from the day you start shopping for flights, all the way through to the moment you arrive at your destination. Plan your trip, pay for bags, and use your digital boarding pass for a seamless airport experience.

Before your flight, pre-order your favorite onboard meal

Remember to pre-order your favorite meals as early as two weeks before your flight and up to 20 hours prior to departure in all cabins on our app or online. We’ve filled our winter menu with some of our “Greatest Hits” inspired by guests’ most loved dishes and serve freshly prepared meals and snacks for breakfast, lunch and dinner—always including a vegetarian option.

Give yourself plenty of time

Give yourself plenty of time to get to and through the airport. We recommend arriving at the airport 2 hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours for international.

Heads up: Some of our hub airports—including Seattle—are undergoing construction that may increase congestion. Parking might also be limited.

Tag your bags & get going!

With new Bag Tag Stations coming to every airport we serve, you’ll be able to quickly pay for and tag your bags and go. Pro tip: If you’re flying with just a carry on, skip the lobby and head straight to security with your mobile boarding pass.

Get in touch with us

If you’re an Alaska Mileage Plan member, set up communication preferences in your account profile. Our Reservations team can easily update you if your flight schedule changes due to something like weather. You can receive notifications through the app, email and text (to request more info, simply text HELP to 252752).

If you need special assistance while traveling, you can request it online or call our dedicated accessible services line at 1-800-503-0101 (dial 711 for relay services). Request wheelchair assistance, add a trained service animal to your trip and more.

Family travel with Alaska Airlines is just as delightful as the destination

As families plan their holiday trips, especially to destinations as enchanting as the Disneyland® Resort, choosing an airline becomes part of the narrative. With Alaska Airlines, the story is always about putting families first, ensuring the journey is as memorable as the destination. And isn’t that what family travel should be about? Creating stories, together, up in the air and beyond.

As a content creator and family travel blogger, I’m always on the lookout for experiences that resonate with the heart of family adventure.  Traveling with family can be complex, but my recent trip to Disneyland highlighted how one airline could simplify the journey from the jump to landing. I couldn’t gate-keep  my experience with Alaska and why it will continue to be my top choice for family travel with all of you.

A plane for fun and all. On November 1, 2023, Alaska officially welcomed the “Mickey’s Toontown Express” airplane to its fleet. This new livery is adorned with playful images of Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, along with their pals Goofy, Pluto, Donald Duck and Daisy Duck in Mickey’s Toontown at Disneyland® Park. It took artists over 400 hours and 20 days to hand-paint the brightly colored aircraft exterior from nose to tail.

ICYMI Alaska recently unveiled its ‘Mickey’s Toontown’-themed aircraft, featuring designs inspired by Mickey Mouse and friends, as part of their special themed aircraft, which my kids love seeing at the airport — including other meaningful aircraft like Alaska’s “Our Commitment” aircraft which we got to see in-person last year.

Here’s some of the reasons I’ll fly Alaska again and again:

Families sit together

Alaska always rolls out the red carpet for families right from the get-go with policies around seating and boarding for families. I love Alaska’s commitment to ensuring families sit together without any additional fees. Under their policy, if there’s ever any challenge in seating a child 13 or under with their accompanying adult, they’ll accommodate you on the next flight at no extra cost and that’s important to note, because when traveling with a larger family it isn’t always easy to be seated together, but it’s a family seating guarantee that takes the stress out of booking.   

Priority Boarding

Beyond seating policies, my family loves the practical perks for those flying with young children. Alaska provides Priority Boarding for families with children under the age of two, a convenience that simplifies the boarding process significantly and infants under the age of two fly for free on a parent’s lap, which is a wallet-friendly bonus for parents.

Free Checked Strollers + Car Seats

The airline also offers complimentary gate check for strollers and car seats, reducing the hassle of managing these bulky items, but making them available for navigating through the airport to the gate and having them ready and on hand once you deplane to your destination. 

Inflight entertainment 

On board, Alaska enhances the flying experience for kids with purchase options like Disney-themed picnic packs and complimentary coloring books. They also have an extensive range of inflight entertainment, with over 800 movies and TV episodes free of charge, to keep the little ones engaged.

Preserve your Mileage Plan Status

Alaska’s thoughtfulness extends to new parents too. Their “Elite Leave” program preserves the Mileage Plan Member’s elite status, keeping it intact for an additional year during pregnancy or maternity leave. It’s a breath of fresh air for parents who don’t want to worry about their traveler status during significant life changes.  

Care in every detail

The level of care is evident in how they want families to feel – taken care of, comfortable, and safe. This extends to addressing the needs of nervous fliers, with the “Fly for All” app, designed to assist first-time flyers and individuals with cognitive and developmental disabilities, which can help in reducing travel-related stress, and accommodating the dietary preferences and health needs of families. They offer kid-friendly menu options and cater to guests with peanut allergies, which is indicative of their attention to detail when it comes to comfort and safety.

From priority boarding and seating policies to entertainment and dietary considerations, Alaska has built a travel experience that caters to the nuances of family travel. The new ‘Mickey’s Toontown’ plane is more than just a themed aircraft; it’s part of a broader commitment by the airline to ensure families start their vacations the moment they step on board. The kids were thrilled, we were stress-free and the whole journey felt like part of the Disneyland® Resort experience — joyful, magical and wonderfully inclusive.

Photos by Ike Haynes

Flying to the Disneyland® Resort on the ‘Mickey’s Toontown Express’ aircraft reaffirmed my belief that the right airline could make all the difference in family travel. With Alaska Airlines, the journey is just as delightful as the destination.

Thank you, Alaska for making our family’s Disney dream take flight with such care and enchantment. Here’s to many more journeys filled with magic with you!

Alaska Airlines gives magical gift of travel to families impacted by Maui wildfires 

Video by Blake Ramelb

Earlier this month, Jordan Cabanilla and his family enjoyed their last ride of the evening before the gates were closing at Southern California’s Disneyland Resort. After a fun-filled day at the park, Jordan’s three kids – AJ, Jade, and Ethan – had not stopped smiling. 

Their youthful excitement filled Jordan with emotion. However, it was his wife’s smile that made him pause throughout the weekend.  

“Pretty much everything has been on my wife since the fire,” Jordan said. “Just for that short time at Disneyland, she was able to smile instead of thinking about, ‘OK, I got to take care of this for the funerals, meet with lawyers, deal with probate.’” 

Jordan and his wife, Ana, lost their business and home on Aug. 8 in the wind-whipped wildfires that leveled the historic town of Lahaina on the west side of Maui and damaged or destroyed another 2,200 residential structures. 

But losing the home that Jordan and his wife bought with their entire life savings was no measure against the loss of Ana’s older brother, her brother’s wife and young son.  

“They were able to escape, but then got trapped in the neighborhood,” he said.  

Jordan opened up about the chain of events that likely saved his own life and his children’s that day. It began with Ana telling him to fix a part of their fence the wind had knocked down.  

“That morning, Ana woke me up and told me, ‘You gotta take care of that before it flies into someone’s home,’” he said. “I’ve lived in Lahaina all my life and I’ve never seen winds that strong. I was able to call out sick and stayed home with the kids. About four o’ clock, my wife called and told me, ‘There’s a fire up the road that’s moving pretty quick; you guys got to get out.’ I looked outside — everything had turned black.” 

Jordan’s home was engulfed in flames just minutes after they packed what they could in their car and left Lahaina, his friends told him later. 

“If I hadn’t been at home, I don’t know how I would’ve been able to get to my kids because the wind had knocked down the utility poles and blocked the roads,” he said. 

Like many in the community since the fire, Jordan and his family have resolved to provide a sense of normalcy for their children amid the challenges of rebuilding their lives.  

Our kids reminisce about the house and their toys,” Lahaina Resident Rose Ann Recites said. “Sometimes we feel like we don’t know if we want to be on the island. I still cannot believe that this happened.” 

Photo courtesy of Disneyland® Resort

Rose Ann and her husband, Eric, lived in his childhood home along with their two children, Danica and Rylee. The fire took everything, including mementos of their son – Ryan Luis – who passed away from Leukemia several years ago. A lock of his hair, the last outfit he was wearing and his handprints. 

Miguel Ceballos, his wife Lindsay, and their four children have moved nine times since being displaced by the fire.  

Our community, we’re so supportive of each other,” Jordan said. “Within twelve hours, people were donating clothes, water, food.” 

Alaska Airlines helped transport 220,000 pounds of relief supplies to impacted communities in the weeks following the fires and immediately sent rescue flights to help evacuees off the island and make room for recovery efforts. 

Alaska collaborated with long-time partner and local non-profit Kanu Hawaiʻi to distribute 27 million miles — donated by Alaska, employees and guests — to those who needed support but could no longer afford the cost of flying.  In total, 544 impacted Maui residents were helped with these miles.

When we heard that families, such as the Cabanillas, Recites and Ceballos, were seeking refuge from the daily struggle of rebuilding their lives – we knew we had to do more. 

Earlier this month, Alaska surprised the Cabanillas, Recites and Ceballos families with a weekend-long vacation to California’s beloved Disneyland Resort along with a stay at the Westin Anaheim hotel. 

Alaska asked Kanu Hawai‘i to help find families that would benefit from Alaska’s Gift of Travel – a program in which we give the magic of travel to those who deserve it most, whether through an all-inclusive trip, roundtrip tickets or donated miles.  

Earlier this month, Alaska surprised the Cabanillas, Recites and Ceballos families with a weekend-long vacation to California’s beloved Disneyland Resort along with a stay at the Westin Anaheim hotel. 

“I didn’t want to believe it because it was too good to be true,” Rose Ann said. “We were due for a family trip after what we’ve been through. More importantly, the kids deserved it.” 

Rose Ann and Eric’s kids couldn’t celebrate their birthdays because of the fires. 

“We surprised our kids just hours before getting on the plane,” said Miguel. “To give them that magical sense that there’s hope in their lives after all this has just been amazing. We really appreciate Alaska Airlines for this amazing gift.” 

Want to give the Gift of Travel to other Maui families?  

Contributions made to the Alaska Airlines Disaster Relief Pool through Dec. 31, 2023, will be donated to Kanu Hawaiʻi and Maui Rapid Response to provide travel support for Maui residents impacted by the wildfires.  Alaska will match the miles donated, up to one million miles.

Donate miles for Maui

About the videographer and photographer

Blake Ramelb

Blake Ramelb was born and raised in Lahaina. It was where his year-round photography business was mainly located.

After the fires, Blake’s business suffered. His work on the Alaska Airlines ‘Gift of Travel’ to Disneyland was his first paid-gig since the tragedy.

Immediately after the fires, Blake began to use his social media platforms he once used for his business to help impacted residents. In the absence of cell and internet service as a result of the fires, Blake began posting videos to spread the word about how people could effectively donate. At one point, he was receiving thousands of relief supplies from around the world for Lahaina families. Blake also disseminated real-time updates and developments.

His social media following has grown as he’s become a trusted voice in his hometown. “The people of Lahaina aren’t just neighbors to me anymore, they are all my family,” Blake said. 

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