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Want to fly? How to become a pilot with Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air

Aspiring pilots and the mentors who take them under their wing 

Austen Pyle was 13 when he knew he wanted to fly — it was his first brush with the sky in a glider. Today, less than 10 years after that first flight, he’s starting his pilot training with Horizon Air, Alaska’s regional airline in the Pacific Northwest. Within a few months, he’ll be a first officer – following in his mentor’s flight path. 

Lawrence and Austen at Aviation Day, 2015
Lawrence and Austen at Aviation Day, 2022

Like many pilots, it took just one flight to inspire a career. Lawrence Pavlinovic, then a Horizon Air captain and now an Alaska captain, was the glider flight instructor that auspicious day. He saw Pyle’s passion for flight immediately and took him under his wing – inviting him to Aviation Day, an annual event hosted by Alaska and Horizon to inspire careers in aviation. 

“Lawrence really pushed me to explore aviation as an option,” says Pyle. “He opened my eyes, and I’m so glad he did.” 

Pyle, once the mentee attending Aviation Day, became the mentor over the weekend, discussing the journey to becoming a pilot.

Now’s the best time to become a pilot  

The need for the next generation of pilots is greater than ever. Alaska and Horizon expect to hire more than 900 pilots by the end of 2022 to replace thousands of pilots who retired during the pandemic or are approaching the mandatory retirement age of 65. Across the industry, mainline airlines are hiring about 10,000 pilots this year alone. 

Alaska Airlines First Officer Mallory C

But in between the moment a love of flying is sparked and a career, aspiring pilots like Pyle face a journey that requires a daunting investment of time and money. On average, it can cost around $90,000 for education, flight training and certifications, and pilots must log hundreds of flying hours before they can fly for commercial airlines. However, the opportunities for financial and other support while navigating this journey are growing. 

Alaska has launched several pilot-development programs – including most recently True North, a partnership with two historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), and Ascend Pilot Academy, a partnership with Hillsboro Aero Academy in Oregon – to encourage aspiring pilots from diverse backgrounds to follow their dream.  

“If you’re going to do this, do it 100 percent,” – Austen Pyle at Alaska Airlines Aviation Day May 2022

Want to fly? Here are some tips and resources to get you off the ground: 

Find your passion: Take a discovery flight  

Flight schools and many flying clubs offer an hour with a flight instructor who includes an introduction to ground school as well as time at the controls in the air. Pilots say this is the best way to determine if a curiosity about flying will transform into a passion and commitment to do the work.  

“Do one flight. That’s all it will take for you to decide if you want to become a pilot or not,” says Pyle.  

Alaska’s annual Aviation Day events in Seattle and Portland also provide an opportunity for young people to explore careers across the industry. Seattle’s event was May 7, but there’s still time to attend the event in Portland, coming up Saturday, May 21. Learn more about registering. 

Plan your pathway: Explore Alaska’s pilot-development programs 

Pyle started out at the Evergreen Soaring Club and worked toward his pilot’s license while still in high school. “I actually got my private pilot’s license before my driver’s license,” he said.  

When he started Central Washington University’s aviation program, Pyle interviewed right away for the Horizon Air Pilot Development Program, which partners with universities while providing a stipend, mentorship and a pathway to a future job at Horizon.  

“That was really special for me as a freshman in college to know that I had an airline job waiting for me when I was ready,” said Pyle. 

And Alaska’s newest pilot-development programs are designed to recruit students with diverse backgrounds, part of our commitment to increase the diversity of our workforce at all levels by 2025. 

The True North pilot-development program was launched in fall 2021 in partnership with Delaware State University and University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, two historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). True North’s goal is to recruit and support BIPOC pilots on their journeys, and students receive guaranteed first officer positions at Horizon upon graduation, along with a confirmed path to Alaska. 

Ascend Pilot Academy launched in March in partnership with Hillsboro Aero Academy in Oregon to provide resources and a career path for aspiring pilots, including those who don’t yet have flight experience. Once accepted, cadets receive a stipend and financial assistance for training, as well as a confirmed job with Horizon once qualified. “Aviation is for everyone,” says Carlos Zendejas, vice president of flight operations for Horizon Air. “Our programs help navigate the how-to of becoming a pilot, and we know that finances are a barrier, so our programs have stipends to help with that as well.” 

We need to find the young pilots and we’ve got to grow them. That’s where True North came from.” – Captain Ron Limes, one of the founders of True North and Alaska’s director base chief pilot in Seattle. 

Captain Limes loved planes as a child, but knew as a teen he was destined to fly them when he took a discovery flight over the New York City skyline.

Seek out support through pilot associations and flying clubs 

Aerospace associations and flying clubs offer a wealth of resources – from scholarships to assistance in sorting through education options, to job opportunities. For example, Alaska Airlines Captain JP Wilson found a job at Horizon Air through a career fair sponsored by the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals.  

Captain Wilson knew he wanted to fly planes from the time he was a kid angling for the window seat while tagging along on his dad’s business trips. 

Limes says associations provide vital guidance from mentors who have already navigated the journey to becoming a pilot, which is especially valuable for diverse students who are entering a field long dominated by white male pilots. 

“You can find a group where somebody has already broken the barrier for you. I’m so thankful for the generations ahead of me who made the way smoother for me,” says Limes. 

A few of the associations and clubs with Alaska and Horizon members: 

Find a mentor to help you stay the course 

As a young man, Pavlinovic chased his aviation dreams for years, but kept running into roadblocks – from his parents, who initially pushed him to be a doctor or lawyer instead of a pilot, to the Air Force recruiter who told him he couldn’t fly because he wore glasses (not true). He credits a naval aviator who was a flight instructor in the Civil Air Patrol for encouraging him to not give up. It took many years, along with money from the veterans’ benefits he earned through 21 years of service in the Marines and Army, to achieve his dream of becoming a commercial pilot. 

Now when he meets young people like Pyle who have a passion for flying, he’s eager to help them on their way. “Because of my experience in the military and the civilian world, which is where I did all my flying, I can tailor my mentorship to a young man or woman and talk through the different ways they can pursue this,” says Pavlinovic.  

Across Alaska and Horizon, pilots take mentorship to heart, and veteran pilots are matched with students in all our associated pilot-development programs.  

We look for pilots who want to be mentors, who want to give back. We ask about it in interviews. A lot of our pilots love to give back.” – Captain JP Wilson 

Pyle has already found ways to mentor up-and-coming pilots. While still in high school, he put together a presentation on aviation careers for a class of fifth graders – complete with metal wings donated from Alaska and Horizon. And as a flight instructor, he would tell his students: “If you’re going to do this, do it 100 percent until you are done and nothing less.” 

Now that he’s achieved one goal, Pyle has his sights set on another: “I’ve told Lawrence, ‘On your retirement flight, I want to be your first officer.’” 

Photos by Joe Nicholson

Alaska’s new Star Wars-themed aircraft celebrates adventures to “Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge” at Disneyland Resort

Alaska Airlines joined forces with Disneyland Resort today, May the Fourth, to unveil a new, one-of-its-kind Star Wars-themed aircraft that even Chewbacca would be proud of!  The plane, painted space black with the iconic Millennium Falcon emblazoned on the tail chased by TIE fighters, celebrates Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the newest land of adventure inside Disneyland park. The plane is now flying on routes across Alaska’s network for the universe to enjoy!

For this latest collaboration – Alaska’s seventh painted plane for the Disneyland Resort – no Jedi mind tricks were needed: the force was strong for a Star Wars livery to finally enter Alaska’s fleet. The aircraft’s official name is “Star Wars Transport to the Disneyland Resort” with a tail number of N538AS. After the big reveal and celebration at the gate in the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, the plane made its inaugural flight today and ultimate arrival at John Wayne Airport in Orange County.

The unique design of the Star Wars-inspired plane is a collaboration among teams at Alaska, Disneyland Resort and Lucasfilm. Familiar spacecraft span each side of the plane with hand painted, detailed imagery: the Millennium Falcon and four TIE fighters. Designers at Disneyland Resort focused on the incredibly identifiable, widely recognized Millennium Falcon for the spotlight, in addition to the well-traveled spaceship being the focal point at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, a 14-acre land in Disneyland park.

The Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Disneyland Resort logos are featured in the center of the fuselage. For a lighthearted touch, porgs (the cute avian creatures that lived on Luke Skywalker’s remote island) look back at passengers from both winglets, as another porg greets guests at the boarding door. 

Download images from this post.

To bring the imagery to life, the plane’s exterior required 228 gallons of paint applied during 540 work hours over 27 days. For the painting, 23 base colors were used with numerous custom colors mixed onsite for the detailed airbrushing of the Millennium Falcon and the TIE fighters.

Watch how this Alaska Airlines plane was transformed!

Download video

“Star Wars Transport to Disneyland Resort” is scheduled to fly in the Alaska fleet and throughout Alaska’s network. You can also spot “Friendship and Beyond at Disneyland Resort” at airports and in the skies with a whimsical tribute to Pixar Pier at Disney California Adventure Park – our last Disneyland Resort-themed aircraft that began service in October 2019.

Multimedia:

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Photos by Ingrid Barrentine (Alaska Airlines).

Video by Ken Boyer, Dylan Sullivan, Jonny Mack (Alaska Airlines).

For more multimedia from Alaska Airlines visit this page.

Show your Star Wars spirit on Alaska Airlines and board early this ‘May the Fourth’ 

Guests wearing their favorite Star Wars clothing on any May 4 flight will get to enjoy priority boarding!

ATTENTION ALL STAR WARS FANS: If you have a flight on Alaska Airlines on May 4, 2022, you might want to break out your vintage Luke Skywalker T-shirt, way too cool BB-8 ballcap or even that Darth Vader cape. To celebrate the Star Wars fan day of “May the Fourth (be with you),” we’re offering guests who wear their favorite Star Wars gear the chance to board early. 

Everybody in the galaxy loves Star Wars, so we had to celebrate this epic day the Alaska way,” said Natalie Bowman, managing director of marketing and advertising for Alaska Airlines. “Whether you’re traveling near – or far, far away – on May 4th, we hope to see you at our gates ready to board early in your favorite Star Wars gear. It will truly be a star-studded event!”  

The one-day priority boarding promotion can be enjoyed by all guests on any Alaska Airlines flight throughout our network on May 4, 2022. When a guest wears any clothing item Star Wars-related, they’ll be able to board their flight just after Group B (which could stand for, say, Boba Fett). Guests should listen closely to the announcements by gate agents.  

Alaska Airlines’ sustainability report champions climate action, social impact, commitment to people and greener travel

We care a lot — about people, flying greener, investing for strong communities and making flying matter. Below are some highlights from Alaska’s 2021 Care Report.

Each year, we share the journey of our environmental and social impact in an annual report, sharing data, progress, learnings and stories. We share where we’re hitting our targets, areas of improvement, and what we’ve learned throughout the previous year. We know there will always be more work ahead – there is no “mission accomplished” when it comes to our environmental and social impact. We’ll keep pushing forward with care, innovation, pragmatism, accountability, transparency and partnership to ensure that aviation is a positive force in our world.

Last year, we announced new commitments to reduce our climate impacts with goals for carbon, waste, and water. We also committed to new diversity, equity, and inclusion goals as part of our responsibility to make Alaska a place where everyone feels like they belong. This year, we began making these a reality and today, we’re excited to share our progress with you.

Full Care Report

HIGHLIGHTS

Net zero: care for the long-term

Our most significant environmental impact comes from burning jet fuel and the resulting greenhouse gas emissions. Last year, we committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 through a five-part path, with near-term 2025 targets to help us get there.

Click to enlarge.

In 2021, we’ve focused on improving our operational efficiency with procedures and technology that enables us to minimize the amount of fuel we actually burn. These include implementing route optimization software Flyways, taking delivery of new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, improving use of electric ground power and air and continuing to evolve our ground fleet toward lower-emissions options. We also focused on jump-starting the market for sustainable aviation fuels, which have the greatest power to decarbonize aviation in the next several decades.

Click to enlarge.

Transforming the future of flight

Reducing aviation’s impact requires new technologies that don’t yet exist or aren’t available with enough supply and at a viable cost, which is why airline travel is one of the most difficult sectors to decarbonize. To tap into the innovation needed to make aviation sustainable, we launched an investment arm, Alaska Star Ventures.

Alaska Star Ventures is dedicated to identifying and enabling technology to accelerate our path to net zero. To kick things off, we dove in with UP.Partners, The Westly Group and ZeroAvia:

  • UP.Partners is focused on accelerating operational efficiency and advanced air mobility.
  • The Westly Group is focused on green energy, carbon offsetting and removal technologies and enabling a low-carbon circular economy.
  • With ZeroAvia, we are partnering to develop technology to retrofit regional aircraft as zero emissions planes with their innovative design for hybrid hydrogen-electric powertrain technology.

Diversity, equity & inclusion

At Alaska, we believe every person deserves respect regardless of race, ethnicity, capability, age, gender or sexual orientation; we believe that aviation can enable opportunity; and we’re committed to advancing equity in all forms, with an initial focus on racial equity. Recognizing that we have more work to do to advance diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) for our company and industry, in 2021, we set specific and measurable goals to deliver on our commitments to racial equity.

  • Increase racial diversity at all levels of the company to at least 30%, so that leadership at least reflects the diversity of our full employee group;
  • Increase our company’s “Inclusion Index Score” in our employee engagement survey by 10 points; and
  • Engage 175,000 young people around education, opportunity, and career pathways, focusing on developing BIPOC talent.

In 2021, we reported a modest initial increase in leadership representation while putting in place the talent pipeline to recruit and advance more diverse leaders. Already in 2022, we’ve made more progress—currently 18.3% of our leaders are BIPOC. There is more work to do, but we’re on track to achieve our goals by 2025. These goals are supported by a strong culture of inclusion which is measured by our “Inclusion Index Score,” which increased by 9 points in 2021.

This past year, we’ve established new programs to enable more young people to reach aviation and other career goals, working with local schools and establishing our own pilot academies.  Learn more.

Holding ourselves accountable

Our commitment to people and the planet is not just an aspiration; it is something we live by every day. Beginning in 2021, we included a carbon intensity metric into the goals-based program that guides bonus pay for all employees. Also, starting in 2021, a portion of long-term executive compensation depends on progress in diversifying our leadership ranks.

We believe how we hold ourselves accountable should play a critical role in our company’s culture of care. It is not enough to say we want to do good. We must measure our impact and integrate those metrics in our systems. This accountability enables and creates lasting change.

The next 90 years

This month, we celebrate our 90th anniversary as an airline. While we enjoy this remarkable achievement, our eyes are on the horizon, looking toward our next 90 years and what it will take to care for people and the planet for the long term.

Alaska Airlines pilot pulls some strings to delight guests ​

During long stretches at work, Buddy, an Alaska Airlines First Officer, will bring his acoustic guitar as his trusted travel companion. 

 “Music is a big thing for me,” said Buddy, who has played the guitar for over 20 years. “I think that everybody should have their own soundtrack going on in their mind all the time.” 

Little did the San Francisco-based pilot know his musical gift would bring joy to guests on his next flight. 

Music to airport ears  

Buddy, an Alaska Airlines First Officer

Earlier this month, while Buddy was flying from Austin to Seattle, the flight was delayed. Luckily, Buddy and his instrument were at the “right place, right time.” 

“I was standing close to the gate and noticed one of our guests with two small children,” said Buddy. “The mother looked at me and said, ‘So, are you going to serenade us while we’re waiting?’” 

Without hesitation, he pulled out his guitar to play for the kiddos. 

“I got down on the ground right there with the little kids,” he said. “I started playing for one of the boys at first because he was all over the place and I was just trying to help distract him for a little bit.” 

It’s not every day you see a pilot waiting alongside you at the gate; much less one with a guitar case.  Video shot by Alaska customer service agent Elisa.

“We were delayed, which wasn’t the greatest news for parents traveling with a three-year-old and a one-year-old,” said Seattle resident and KING5 Reporter Steve Soliz. It was his wife who had jokingly asked Buddy whether “a serenade came with the price of a ticket.” 

Other parents, whose children had also grown restless while waiting at the gate, gratefully watched as their kids were intrigued by the simple melody that suddenly filled the air. At one point, about a half dozen children surrounded Buddy. 

https://twitter.com/SteveSoliz/status/1511130631824154627?s=20&t=E99saxVrMTuxRzl9lXVo-w

“Buddy even let my toddler touch his guitar,” he said. “My three-year-old son and I walked up on the impromptu concert. Buddy happily played for my little ones and the others near the gate, who also enjoyed this musical moment. To be honest, this is one of the many reasons we enjoy flying Alaska.” 

The pilot, who was concerned about being too loud and bothering the guests waiting at the gate, had no idea the group of kids weren’t the only ones paying attention to him. 

Customer Service Agent Elisa, who captured Buddy’s musical gift on cell phone video, said watching him serenade the crowd was such a touching moment.  

I felt proud to work for a company who has employees that care, and Buddy needs this recognition,” Elisa said. “Buddy created a genuine connection that is off-script to what our job demands.” 

Buddy was surprised to learn his small gesture had such a big impact. 

“Every now and then you can do something that just seems so little to you that actually becomes a big deal to somebody else,” said Buddy. “If I can inspire anybody to do something, it would be — to be nice to other people. I think we all have the ability to do that.” 

Pilot pathways and career development at Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air 

This past year, we’ve established new programs to enable more young people to reach aviation and other career goals, working with local schools and establishing our own pilot academies.  

ASCEND PILOT ACADEMY 

As we plan for Alaska and Horizon’s future, we’re actively working to train the next generation of pilots through a variety of programs. In March 2022, we launched the Ascend Pilot Academy in partnership with Hillsboro Aero Academy, a premier flight school in the Pacific Northwest. The Ascend Pilot Academy provides aspiring airline pilots with a streamlined, more financially accessible path to becoming a commercial pilot at Horizon and eventually Alaska. At launch, 180 prospective pilots signed up for the program—more than double our goal! 

For Horizon Air pilots seeking to become pilots for Alaska Airlines, the Pilot Pathways Program provides the most direct route. Horizon Air and Alaska Airlines share a goal of creating a rewarding career at the Air Group family of airlines and making the move from regional to a major airline, if desired, as simple as possible.  

Each year, a minimum of 30% of Alaska new-hire pilots will come from the Alaska Pilot Pathways Program. In 2021, 32% (51 pilots total) of our overall pilot new hires at Alaska were Horizon transfers through the Pathways program. 

Learn more

TRUE NORTH PILOT PROGRAM 

Over the past year, a group of Black Alaska pilots got together to find creative ways to make aviation careers more attainable for aspiring pilots.  

Led by Ron Limes, an Alaska captain since 1999, the group worked in partnership with their colleagues, peers and leaders from across our company to develop a program called True North.  

The program will increase the diversity of our industry by directly funding students’ flight instruction, providing internship and mentorship opportunities and ultimately moving graduates to first officer positions at Horizon Air, with a confirmed path to Alaska.    

The program kicked off in 2021 with four students from two Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Delaware State University and University of Maryland-Eastern Shore. In the future, we plan to expand the program to other schools as well as broaden its scope of career opportunities within Alaska. 

Learn more

Pledge To Our Keiki to help leave Hawai‘i better than you found it 

As part of Volunteer Week Hawai‘i, Alaska signed the Pledge To Our Keiki, giving back to Hawai‘i in partnership with travel2change and the Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR). 

In Hawai‘i, mālama means to care for, or to nurture. For Auli‘i, 14, it is a way of life and all she’s known. 

“Since we were little, we’ve been taught about taking care of the environment and ecosystem in school, from our grandparents and basically everyone—mālama is about respecting our cultural roots, nature and leaving places better than when you found them,” she said.  

Auli‘i is one of several students on Moloka‘i, a small island within Maui County, who helped create Hawai‘i’s Pledge To Our Keiki to encourage visitors to respect and care for the places she and other youth call home. The Pledge, stewarded by Kanu Hawai‘i, translates into Hawaiian “the pledge to our children.” 

Mālama Hawai‘i with us by signing onto the pledge

In honor of Earth Month and our efforts to care for the planet, Alaska Airlines signed the Pledge and is inviting our guests to do the same, in support of their goal to get 50,000 signatures in 2022.  

Photos by Ingrid Barrentine

Guests on this special trip also experienced our infamous Delight Flight, which meant everyone onboard was surprised with a roundtrip ticket on Alaska Airlines for future travel and a free annual membership from travel2change. They were also treated to a special performance by Native Hawaiian, Grammy-Nominated Producer and Singer-Songwriter, Kimié Miner, along with hula performances by Alaska Airlines employees.

 As part of Volunteer Week Hawai‘i, a group of employees and volunteers in partnership with travel2change and the Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) recently ventured to O‘ahu to get a better understanding of what it means to mālama and leave behind a positive impact where you fly. 

Understanding that the impact we have now will be the reality for the next generation.  It’s our responsibility to preserve our lands and ensure our future children have the same opportunities we did.” – Michelle, network planning & green team (our environmental business group).

Before walking along the shoreline and planting native plants near Ka‘ena Point, Kekai Mar, DLNR’s Park Interpretive Program Specialist, took a moment to share the importance of asking the land to welcome us in, “it’s like knocking on someone’s door before entering.” He says should always ask the land for permission and wait for a sign that it’s okay to enter — whether it be starting a hike or walking down the beach. The sign could be a light breeze, the sound of crashing waves, a bird chirping or an insect buzzing by.

“Our elders have taught us that we are part of the environment, not above it, which means that the life, lands and waters are more than just our surroundings, it’s our home, we must treat it like family and with the utmost respect,” said Kekai. 

For Jacqueline, who works in revenue management and leads Alaska’s Green Team, the concept of taking the time to appreciate a place and culture before letting yourself in was remarkable and something she hopes to incorporate in future travel experiences. 

“I thought about all the things we do these days without ‘thinking’ about it or appreciating ‘why’ we’re doing what we’re doing. Kekai took the time to introduce the science, culture and land to us before we even picked up a shovel. His stories rooted the work to meaning and purpose. I now feel a relationship to the land we visited and an obligation to take care of it,” she said. 

Michelle (left), Jacqueline (right).

I took the Pledge because it’s the right thing to do. We should tread lightly wherever we go, striving to leave a place better than we found it. Flying is a wonderful way to see the world! What better way to appreciate a place than learning about and giving back to it? I promise the trip will be much more meaningful!” – Jacqueline

“The experience instilled a sense of responsibility and stewardship to honor and respect the environment around me. I viewed all my hikes, beach, park walks, etc. after with an enriched appreciation for the beautiful places I am fortunate to travel to and live in,” said Michelle.

While smaller than a grain of rice, the endangered Hawaiian, yellow-faced bee is extremely important to many native Hawaiian plants and lives inside tiny objects like sticks, coral and man-made posts such as these. The decline of these bees could lead to the extinction of the plants that rely upon them. Alaska’s efforts to help restore native plants, helps the bees pollinate, which helps the plants and surrounding habitat thrive.

We know even the smallest thing can have the biggest impact, which is why it’s important for travelers to be mindful of where they step, what they take and how they give back,” said Auli‘i.  

Taking the Pledge is one thing we all can do to be more mindful travelers but turning the Pledge into action is the next important step. Alaska is proud of our most recent commitments and actions to help care for Hawai‘i, as well as all of the places we fly. This includes our goal of becoming the most fuel-efficient airline by 2025 and achieving Net Zero by 2040. We’ve also made commitments to reduce our waste impact and took action in 2021 by switching to Boxed Water, which saves 1.8M pounds of plastic from ending up in our oceans. Last year, we announced a partnership with travel2change, a Hawai‘i-based social and environmental impact organization that connects travelers with volunteer experiences in the Hawaiian Islands. 

Air Group employees Samantha, Hope and Paul planting native plants near Ka‘ena Point.

For Alaska, this marks 15 years of flying to Hawai‘i, and we want to help keep the islands strong and beautiful for many future generations to enjoy.

Mālama Hawai‘i with us by signing onto the pledge

Alaska Air Group reports first quarter 2022 results

Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK) today reported financial results for its first quarter ending March 31, 2022 and provided outlook for the second quarter ending June 30, 2022.

“Alaska has a proven track record and a resilient business model that delivers in good times and through challenging ones. We are on course to deliver 6% to 9% adjusted pre-tax margins in 2022, as we recently announced at our investor day,” said CEO Ben Minicucci. “March results were particularly strong, marked by our highest cash sales month in history and revenues that exceeded 2019 levels for the first time since the pandemic began. Our people are working hard to get our airline back to its pre- COVID size and to return to growth from there, all while delivering the operational excellence that we’re known for. It’s an honor to have our company’s hard work recognized by Air Transport World as the 2022 Global Airline of the Year.”

Financial results:

  • Reported net loss for the first quarter of 2022 under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) of $143 million, or $1.14 per share, compared to a net loss of $131 million, or $1.05 per share in the first quarter of 2021.
  • Reported net loss for the first quarter of 2022, excluding special items and mark-to-market fuel hedge accounting adjustments, of $167 million, or $1.33 per share, compared to a net loss, excluding special items and mark-to-market fuel hedge accounting adjustments, of $436 million or $3.51 per share, in the first quarter of 2021.
  • Generated $287 million in operating cash flow for the first quarter, driven by increased advance bookings as both leisure and business demand for air travel continue to recover.
  • Held $2.9 billion in unrestricted cash and marketable securities as of March 31, 2022.
  • Ended the quarter with a debt-to-capitalization ratio of 50%, within our target range of 40% to 50%.

Operational updates:

  • Announced plans to accelerate the transition of Alaska’s mainline fleet to all-Boeing and introduced new plans to transition Horizon’s regional fleet to all-Embraer jets by the end of 2023. This transition is expected to drive significant economic benefits through cost savings, operational simplicity and better fuel efficiency.
  • Extended the co-branded Mileage Plan credit card agreement with Bank of America through 2030, providing expanded guest benefits and accelerating Alaska’s strategic growth plans in the West Coast.
  • Modified the Boeing aircraft order to include six firm and 41 option 737-10 aircraft and 10 firm 737-8 aircraft. The new mix of aircraft types provides an optimal fleet for our network and anticipated growth.
  • Announced plans to renovate and expand Alaska lounges in Seattle and Portland to provide additional capacity and enhanced amenities, with both expected to open by 2026.
  • Received nine Boeing 737-9 aircraft, bringing the total number of 737-9s in our fleet to 20.
  • Added Air Tahiti Nui as a new global Mileage Plan partner, allowing our guests to earn miles flying nonstop between Seattle or Los Angeles and French Polynesia.
  • Expanded codeshare agreement with Finnair, bringing total codeshare growth to more than 250 routes since Alaska’s entrance into the oneworld alliance in 2021.

Recognition and awards:

  • Awarded the 2022 Airline of the Year by Air Transport World, given to an airline each year in recognition of outstanding performance, innovation and superior service.
  • Named to the TIME100 Most Influential Companies list, highlighting Alaska’s commitment to make meaningful changes in the climate impact of aviation.

Environmental, social and governance updates:

  • Announced Patricia Bedient as the next chair of Alaska Air Group’s Board of Directors, replacing Brad Tilden effective May 5, 2022.
  • Launched the Ascend Pilot Academy in partnership with Hillsboro Aero Academy, providing aspiring pilots a simpler and more financially accessible path to become a commercial pilot at Horizon and Alaska.
  • Alongside other oneworld partners, signed two offtake agreements to procure sustainable aviation fuel for California operations, beginning in 2024.

Tune in:

A conference call regarding the first quarter results will be streamed online at 8:30 a.m. PDT on April 21, 2022. 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.

Full earnings financial data:

Statistical data, reconciliations of the reported non-GAAP financial measures, further details regarding results and a glossary of financial terms can be found in our Earnings Release as filed with the SEC.

View full earnings financial data

Alaska Airlines names new vice president of finance and controller

Alaska Airlines has named Emily Halverson vice president of finance and controller for Alaska Airlines and Alaska Air Group. As Alaska’s vice president of finance and controller, Halverson will set the strategy for and oversee financial reporting, payroll, investor relations and accounting operations.

Halverson joined Alaska Airlines in 2016 as director of financial reporting and accounting. She became the director of investor relations in 2019 and was promoted to managing director of accounting, investor relations and assistant controller in 2020. Halverson helped lead the company through financial integration following the acquisition of Virgin America and played a key role in communicating the company’s recovery progress and strategic priorities to stakeholders over the past two years. Before joining Alaska, Halverson worked for Deloitte.

I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with Emily for over two years, and I couldn’t be more excited to have her in this role,” said Shane Tackett, chief financial officer and executive vice president for Alaska Airlines. “Emily is extremely capable and leads her teams expertly to deliver results and champion the airline with investors.”

Halverson is a certified public accountant and earned her MBA degree through the Executive Master of Business Administration program at the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington. She has a bachelor’s degree in accounting and French from Western Washington University. A lifelong Washingtonian, she and her family reside in Seattle.

Dispatchers at Alaska Airlines ratify new five-year contract 

SEATTLE — Alaska Airlines’ 100 dispatchers, who are represented by the Transport Workers Union (TWU), have ratified a new five-year contract. The contract was approved by 81% of those employees who voted. The new contract includes increased pay with a mid-term market review to ensure wage rates stay competitive, along with enhanced benefits and streamlined training.   

Alaska’s dispatchers are responsible for flight planning and tracking to ensure the safety and progress of each flight conducted by the airline from origin to destination. They are the carrier’s primary command and control link with Alaska pilots, providing en route weather, airport facility and other flight safety information. 

“Our dispatchers play a critical role in our operation with responsibility for every single flight throughout the system,” said Jenny Wetzel, vice president of labor relations at Alaska Airlines. “I’m glad we were able to reach an agreement that works for dispatchers and our company’s long-term success. This means, even amid an uncertain economy, we can increase pay and enhance their benefits today.”  

“TWU was impressed with the logic-based approach taken in these negotiations by the Alaska negotiators,” said Gary Peterson, TWU international vice president and air division director. “Early on both groups agreed on the industry analysis each of us had independently performed, which helped us reach an agreement in-line with our amendable date.” 

The previous contract became amendable on March 24, 2022. Contracts in the airline industry do not expire. Once they become amendable, the current contract remains in effect until a new agreement is ratified. 

Face masks are now optional on our planes and in airports under new guidance 

Face masks have been like boarding passes for nearly two years — you couldn’t fly without one. But, as of today, masks are optional in airports and onboard aircraft, effective immediately. 

Note: Despite Federal changes, travelers must continue to wear masks on flights both to and from Canada. Masks must still be worn in airports within Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, Los Angeles County and Mexico. See other special travel instructions.

Due to a judicial decision in our federal court system, the mask mandate has been overturned, which means our guests and employees have the option to wear a mask while traveling in the U.S. and at work.

Safety is always our highest priority, so while we love to see your smiling faces in the airport and on board, we respect your decision to keep using this added layer of protection. Above all, we hope you’ll treat each other with kindness and respect throughout the travel journey and beyond. 

It has been a long 24 months with nearly constant change. I could not be prouder of our frontline employees who have handled every pivot focusing on safety and the care we’re known for,” said Max Tidwell, VP of safety & security at Alaska Airlines. “We’re also thankful for our guests who remained considerate, patient and stood by us throughout every twist and turn.” 

Even as more pandemic protocols and policies ease, our team will remain vigilant and prepared for whatever may come next. Safety remains our top priority. And while we sincerely hope most of these challenges are in our rear-view mirror, we are confident we will be ready to respond if faced with another COVID wave or even a new virus. 

What happens to guests who were banned because of not following our previous mask policy? Throughout the last two years, we have relied on reporting from agents and flight attendants to ban noncompliant guests from traveling while the federal mask policy remained in effect. Based on our reports, we will have some guests whose behavior was particularly egregious who will remain banned, even after the mask policy is rescinded.  

As always, we will continue to hold safety as our highest value. Thank you again to our loyal guests and team of 22,000 people who came together over the last two years to do the right thing and take care of one another. We’ve proven we can do anything together.  

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Earth Month: 5 ways you can join Alaska Airlines in caring for the planet

At Alaska, we make conscious choices every day to reduce the impact of our operations in big ways—like purchasing the most fuel-efficient aircraft and using sustainable aviation fuels – and seemingly little ones like composting coffee grounds onboard and using locally made food and beverages. Every action has an impact. We are also here to help our guests find ways to be a conscious traveler and lighten their carbon footprint.

Caring for the planet shouldn’t just be top of mind during Earth Month, it should show up in all parts of our lives. Reducing your footprint may seem like a vague or overwhelming task. But you can start by choosing one thing and doing it well.

Here are five ways we’re making progress, and how you can join us:

1. BE MINDFUL AT HOME AND WHEN YOU TRAVEL

Whether you’re traveling or venturing out in your local community, consider how small steps add up to big outcomes for the natural world around us.  

In Seattle, take the light rail to and from the airport, or to the Seattle Center to watch a Kraken game, where our partners at the Climate Pledge Arena are delivering lofty standards for large venues and sustainability. We’re proud to be part of the most sustainable arena in the world and to have signed The Climate Pledge to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2040. 

If you’re planning to travel to Hawaii, practice malama – which means to take care – by giving back to the community through volunteer activities with our partners at Travel2Change. The possibilities are endless — from planting native trees to cleaning up historical sites or beaches or learning more about native Hawaiian language and culture.  

In partnership with @travel2change, we’re connecting travelers to volunteer experiences throughout the Hawaiian Islands—because travel means more when you leave a positive impact on the communities you visit. Visit the link in our bio to learn more!

By giving back to the places you live and fly, you’ll get a truer sense of place and walk away with deeper, more meaningful connections from your travel experience. And isn’t that what travel is all about?

2. DITCH PLASTIC FOR GOOD

Did you know only 9% of plastic gets recycled nationwide? The rest usually ends up in landfills, is burned or finds its way into our oceans. Our West Coast Wonders aircraft, adorned with marine life and named by our employee-driven “Green Team,” serves as a constant reminder of why we do this work to reduce our climate impact through carbon, waste and water. 

The special Boeing 737-9 MAX aircraft was inspired by the beautiful places we fly to and reflects our support for projects to restore local habitats and biodiversity up and down the West Coast.

While we are proud of our industry-leading recycling program, we know we need to move to more renewable options and replace plastic entirely to protect our planet for the long-haul First, we challenge you to ditch the straw—like we did in 2018. That year, we were the first major U.S. airline to replace plastic straws and citrus picks with marine-friendly alternatives on our aircraft. The effort, made possible with the help of environmental nonprofit Lonely Whale, eliminated 22 million pieces of inflight plastic waste every year since.

Last fall, we tackled our top two waste-producing onboard products: switching from plastic water bottles to pouring Boxed Water on our flights, and from plastic water cups to recyclable paper ones for water service. These steps eliminated nearly 1.8 million pounds of single-use plastics from our flights each year. 

Even better, pledge with us to #fillbeforeyoufly – bring your own disposable water bottle on your travels, keep it empty through security and fill er’ up at a water bottle filling station in the airport before you board your flight. Tag a photo of your refillable with #fillbeforeyoufly on social, and we will plant two trees in your honor through the Bonneville Environmental Foundation—whose goal is to plant 1 million trees on the West Coast to help reduce pollution and restore habitats for local fish and wildlife.

3. OFFSET YOUR FLIGHT

We are on a journey to reduce the carbon impact of our operations. But aviation is one of the hardest areas to decarbonize. Thankfully, offset programs like The Good Traveler can help us balance our footprint in the near-term.

The Good Traveler lets you offset the carbon emissions from your trip by investing in an offset project around one of the participating local airports. We joined this program because of the projects it enables, grounded they are in the places we live and fly. Together through The Good Traveler, travelers have helped offset over 112,000 metric tons of CO2.

4. GO PAPERLESS AND REDUCE WASTE

We’re no stranger when it comes to investing in tech. We pioneered the use of RNP, a navigation technology that decreases emissions, improves safety and even gets you to your destination faster. This past year, we were also the first airline to implement new software called Flyways to support our efficiency-minded dispatchers in planning the most efficient routes to save time and carbon emissions.

But some aviation tech is in the palm of your hand. With the Alaska’s mobile app, you can check-in for your flight and get your boarding pass all on our app, eliminating the need to print paper boarding passes. You can also pre-order your favorite meal or snack you wish to enjoy onboard, which helps us predict catering demand and eliminate food waste.

As we continue to grow, we’re evolving our services and products in the air and in airports to create better experiences for our guests. We’re using the San Jose airport (SJC) as an incubator for the future of seamless travel, including kiosk-less lobbies, DIY bag drop, biometric boarding and beyond.

5. JOIN US ON THE JOURNEY TO NET ZERO

Last year, we announced our five-part path to net zero carbon emissions by 2040. This path includes operating as efficiently as possible including through use of the technologies mentioned above and using more electric vehicles at our airports. 

It also includes bringing up to 145 efficient Boeing 737 MAX aircraft into our fleet, each of which is 22% more fuel-efficient than the aircraft they replace. But the biggest change in our carbon footprint will come from using Sustainable Aviation Fuel or SAF.  

We’re proud to use SAF today from Neste, to work with SkyNRG Americas to advance production capability in the Pacific Northwest, and look forward to using more SAF, alongside airline partners in the oneworld alliance, through new offtake agreements with producers Aemetis and Gevo. And we’re glad to be in good global company: oneworld has a shared commitment to achieve net zero, and to use 10% SAF by 2030. 

What can you do? Packing lighter for your trip helps us burn less fuel overall; each pound makes a difference to our CO2 emissions. If each guest packed 5lbs lighter, it would decrease our CO2 emissions by 11,800 metric tons each year. So, next time you go maybe ask yourself do you really need those extra shoes? 

Making progress in sustainability requires action, innovation, accountability, and transparency. In 2021, underscoring the importance of our social and environmental sustainability goals, we made a portion of our all-employee performance-based bonus pay dependent on progress in our carbon intensity, and a portion of long-term executive compensation dependent on improving racially diverse representation in leadership. In our upcoming annual sustainability report, we’ll share more about our progress and stories from our journey.  

Thank you for joining us on the path to a sustainable future for aviation and places around the world. 

Alaska Airlines is all-in at Paine Field – our full schedule resumes this June

Our guests can fly on 18 peak daily departures this summer, including San Francisco flights from Paine Field in Everett, Wash. PAE saves time and offers added convenience for many flyers north of Seattle!

After an exceptionally long two years, our guests are flying again and we love to see it. At the newest commercial airport in the Seattle area, we’re making it easier to go places by adding more convenient flights as we ramp up to resuming our full schedule at Paine Field in Everett this summer.

With many of us eyeing a fun getaway or a long vacation, even that first face-to-face meeting with work colleagues in forever, our guests can currently fly on one of 16 peak daily nonstop departures between Paine Field-Snohomish County Airport and a variety of destinations throughout the West Coast. 

Starting June 17, we’ll increase our flights to 18 peak daily departures – our full allotment of departures at the airport – which will include four daily nonstops to San Francisco, one of our key hubs that is the center of Bay Area business travel. Service between Paine Field and San Francisco resumes on May 19.

Paine Field is a popular option for our guests flying in and out the Puget Sound region with its beautiful facility, compact size and ease to navigate – the terminal feels luxurious,” said Brett Catlin, vice president of network and alliances at Alaska Airlines. “We have many Mileage Plan members and elite flyers who live north of Seattle. We want to offer destinations that appeal to them while also being a convenient alternative to possible congestion to the south.”

From Everett, we fly to Boise, Las Vegas, Orange County, Palm Springs, Phoenix, San Diego, Spokane and Tucson. For the latest flight schedules and to purchase tickets, visit alaskaair.com.

“The challenges of the last two years across the travel industry were not unique to Paine Field, but we’ve always had a great partner in our hometown carrier, and we knew they were committed to us and the travelers of this region,” said Brett Smith, CEO of Propeller Airports. “We look forward to Alaska bringing their full schedule back and offering great options out of Paine Field.”

To help our guests secure the lowest prices, we have added our popular Saver fare for the first time on flights to and from Paine Field. Saver fares have limited seat selection and no flight changes while providing Main Cabin benefits like comfortable seats and a free carry-on.

Our sister carrier Horizon Air provides most of our service at Paine Field with the Embraer 175 jet. We recently added 737 service on Alaska for the afternoon flights to Las Vegas and Phoenix. The E175 features First Class and Premium Class, and only window and aisle seating – there are no middle seats. Guests can enjoy hundreds of free movies and TV shows available for viewing on personal devices, free texting on most flights and Wi-Fi connectivity for purchase.

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