Since he was a kid eating ice cream and pizza from the back of his parents’ car, watching planes fly in and out of LAX, Ronnell Norman was fascinated by aviation and the power of flying.
Growing up near Compton, California, when gang violence and crime-riddled the streets, Norman kept his sights on the skies. At 19 years old, he became the first student to enroll at Compton Airport’s flight school. Today, he’s a first officer with Alaska Airlines and CEO of that flight school, now known as Fly Compton Aero Club.
Ronnell ‘Ron’ Norman, Alaska first officer
“I love flying. It’s the ultimate freedom. It puts your mind to the test every time you depart. It takes all of your senses to operate a safe flight and it is something I have wanted to do since I was a child,” said Norman.
Norman hopes to continue creating a safe haven for neighborhood youth in Compton.
“Still today, kids as young as six are becoming involved in gangs. It’s important for kids to see there is a life beyond the inner city,” he said. “Helping kids is very important to me because it was instilled in me since I was a child. My parents gave people and kids in our community opportunities to have impactful futures and I want to do the same.”
Fly Compton Aero Club invites anyone interested in aviation to learn, engage and share their love of flying with other students and aviation professionals. Currently, the youth club has about 30 students, ages ranging from 8 to 18.
Fly Compton is not just an Aero Club … it’s a family! We are made up of a group of minority pilots and maintenance professionals that represent some of the largest commercial, cargo and corporate charter air carriers in the world. We extend an invitation to all that want to learn more about the many facets of aviation, and we look forward to you becoming part of the family!
— Demetrius D. Harris, President
Breaking barriers & building bright futures
Even now, people assume Norman is a flight attendant because of the color of his skin. However, he says it doesn’t come from just white people. Black people also assume this about him because generally, people don’t see many Black pilots. He is optimistic schools like Fly Compton will help break such barriers and close the gap.
If you don’t see something, you just don’t expect it to be that way. That’s everybody. That’s implicit bias. But it’s getting better, in my personal belief,” he said. “The opportunities are here — we’re teaching kids, don’t give up. We’ll get you to where you want to go and being a Black pilot will become a normal thing. You just have to keep pushing.”
Fly Compton Student Alicia, 17, began flying in 2018 shortly after her landlord introduced her to Norman. She was inspired to take flight when her 9th-grade class took a field trip to LAX and heard a female pilot speak about flying.
“I’ve flown so many times now, I’ve gotten used to it. It’s easy for me now. It’s fun. I love it,” she said.
She hopes to attend San Jose State, become a professional pilot someday, and give back like Norman and other flight instructors.
“I know the industry is predominately white men and as a Black person of color, I’m excited to influence my community and hopefully support other young girls like me who want to be pilots because I know how hard it is to take that first step,” she said.
Parents of students at Fly Compton also recognize the legacy Norman and others are building.
This program right here is actually taking young kids and building them up and building their confidence to be pilots,” said Lamar Brumfield, a parent of two boys who are interested in learning about flying. “The instructors are inspiring them and showing them that they can do this. These kids will be the new future and inspire my sons and so on.”
Alaska Airlines launches first-ever flight subscription service in the US – say yes to more adventures with Flight Pass
SEATTLE, Feb. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — As the only major airline headquartered on the West Coast, Alaska Airlines is blazing a new path for travel with the debut of Flight Pass, an innovative, subscription-based travel offering that takes value and flexibility to the next level. Available starting today, Flight Pass members can fly up to 24 roundtrip flights a year to the most popular routes within California, as well as nonstop service from California airports to Reno, Phoenix and Las Vegas, for a fixed monthly rate. With annual plans starting at $49 per month, this new way to fly allows travelers to lock in main cabin deals for a full year and rewards subscribers with lower than average fares on eligible flights.
“Flight Pass builds on our mission to offer travelers the most West Coast destinations at the best value,” said Alex Corey, managing director of business development and products for Alaska Airlines. “Our commitment to care means offering convenient and affordable options that fit our guests’ lifestyle and connect them to where they want to go. After two years of staying close to home, guests are ready to travel again and with 100 daily flights from 16 airports throughout California and between California to Reno, Phoenix and Las Vegas, Flight Pass will take them there.”
Flight Pass subscribers can choose between two annual plans – based on the best value or most flexibility – that differ only in the length of the required advanced booking time. Subscribers will receive credits deposited monthly or bi-monthly into their Flight Pass account, to be redeemed for 6, 12 or 24 nonstop trips a year to eligible destinations. Flyers are still required to pay applicable government taxes and airport fees on each flight, in addition to the monthly subscription fee and nominal fare (most flights the fare is only $0.01).
Travel trend reports reveal that most Americans are planning domestic travel in 2022, particularly to warm-weather and beach destinations – and some are even more willing to be spontaneous and flexible on future trips.1 Anyone with 2022 goals to see and do more are in luck. Flight Pass locks in a great deal for a year of travel with varying options that will fit every budget and lifestyle.
Best value – Flight Pass: Starts at $49 per month, requires booking at least 14 days before travel, and as early as 90 days in advance.
Most flexible – Flight Pass Pro: Starts at $199 per month, allows same-day booking up to two hours before departure, and as early as 90 days in advance.
Choose the number of roundtrips you would like annually: 6, 12 or 24 roundtrip flights.
Redeem your credits and book your trip on an eligible flight.
Choose from 100 daily flights connecting 13 California airports to each other and to Reno, Phoenix, and Vegas
Enjoy your flight!
“Alaska Airlines is uniquely positioned to help our West Coast guests experience more with direct access to destinations near and far from our expanding hubs,” said Neil Thwaites, regional vice president of California for Alaska Airlines. “Flight Pass will provide more options, value and care with every trip that our guests book, while also transforming the travel experience long-term.”
Guests will enjoy the same great benefits they’ve come to love and expect from Alaska Airlines, including the ability to earn miles toward Mileage Plan elite status. Alaska is committed to Next-Level Care on every flight, which includes implementing more than 100 health and safety measures to protect guests and employees throughout their journey. To see how a Flight Pass subscription can unlock savings and travel possibilities, visit www.flightpass.alaskaair.com.
About Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines and our regional partners serve more than 120 destinations across the United States, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica and Mexico. We emphasize Next-Level Care for our guests, along with providing low fares, award-winning customer service and sustainability efforts. Alaska is a member of the oneworld global alliance. With the alliance and our additional airline partners, guests can travel to more than 1,000 destinations on more than 20 airlines while earning and redeeming miles on flights to locations around the world. Learn more about Alaska at newsroom.alaskaair.com and blog.alaskaair.com. Alaska Air and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK).
While more guests begin to travel again and appreciate our Lounge experience—some call it “an oasis in the airport,” a place where they can kick back and unwind or get some work done while enjoying a hand-crafted espresso or local beer.
Except, sometimes our lounges are so popular that they can get quite busy and overcrowded.
Good news! A major expansion of our Lounges has been in the works for 2025 and 2026 to bring our lounge spaces up to par with some of the best in the industry (like our NSAT Lounge in Seattle).
Alaska’s NSAT Lounge in Seattle / Photo by Ingrid Barrentine.
Guest and employee feedback has helped us make the decision that we can no longer wait. Starting this spring, we’re expanding our Lounges in Seattle and Portland to provide 50% more capacity, including adding an “Express Lounge’ in PDX.
Here’s the scoop:
Seattle
Seattle D Lounge expansion conceptual rendering, finished product subject to change.
We’re adding nearly 60 seats to the C Concourse Lounge as the overall space grows by an additional 3,000 square feet by converting neighboring offices. The Lounge will remain open during construction with little impact to guests.
We’re planning a six-month closure and total overhaul of the D Concourse Lounge to expand seating by nearly 30%. We will add a barista stand and new product features and give the area better flow. This renovation will begin once C Lounge is complete. It’s set to reopen in early summer 2023.
Conceptual rendering of the barista stand in Seattle’s D Lounge, finished product subject to change.
The opening of an all-new, more than 20,000-square-foot Lounge is on the radar for 2026. It would eventually replace the D Concourse Lounge and it would become the primary Lounge for our guests departing from the C and D Concourses.
Portland
We’ll enlarge the Lounge by 1,000 square feet with an enclosed patio area that extends into Concourse C. With new seating for 30 people, the total seating capacity will go to 100. Work begins in the spring and it’s scheduled to be completed this summer. During the renovation, the current Lounge will remain open to guests.
Please note: All renderings are conceptual. Finished product(s) are subject to change.
Alaska’s new Concourse C Patio at PDX will offer a variety of seating options to work or relax in a welcoming, sunlit space. Guests will retain access to all the amenities they have come to appreciate within the existing lounge including the food, beverages, bar, and concierge services.
Alaska’s new patio at PDX will provide additional seating for Alaska’s existing lounge near Gate C6. Located across from the entrance to Concourse C, this new amenity will be a convenient stop for guests traveling in and out of Concourse C.
We’re adding a temporary ‘Express Lounge’ at the newly renovated Concourse B for our guests traveling through that section of the airport. The smaller Lounge is scheduled to open in the summer with seating for up to 35 people near Gate B2, offering guests a selection of beverages and light snacks before their flights.
The new Alaska Express Lounge in Concourse B at PDX is located at the Gate B3 Holdroom near the entrance to Concourse B. This new express lounge will be a convenient space for Alaska’s guests traveling out of Concourse B to relax and grab a beverage or snack before their flight.
An all-new Lounge is currently scheduled to open in the 2025 to 2026 timeframe. It’s expected to be more than 10,000 square feet – giving our guests a lot more to love.
Be our guest.
We hope to see you in one of our lounges soon! As an Alaska Lounge+ member, you’ll have access to all Alaska Lounges as well as more than 90 partner lounges around the world. Find the lounge nearest you using the information below.
Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci says that Black History Month is an opportunity to look back and to look forward – to reflect on how far we’ve come, and to recognize how much work we have left to do.
Roaring and soaring into 2022: Alaska Airlines headlines Bay Area’s Chinese New Year Parade
Happy Lunar New Year! As the title sponsor of this year’s San Francisco Chinese New Year Festival and Parade, we are honored to join all our friends for this beloved celebration and send our best wishes for a happy and prosperous Year of the Tiger!
Lunar New Year (or Spring Festival) is based on the lunar calendar, based on phases of the moon. Lunar New Year is celebrated across many East and Southeast Asian countries.
The resilience, character and strong traditions of the Asian American Community in the Bay Area are an inspiration. To mark the start of Lunar New Year, Alaska is proud to share the stories of some of our Asian employees—stories about connecting with their roots, about overcoming hate and learning to unapologetically be who you are no matter what.
When we know about each other, we’re better together.
A return of the Chinese New Year Parade means a return of the tiger spirit
By AngelLi, duty manager for Alaska Airlines at San Francisco Airport (SFO)
Many Asian Americans and allies hope the Year of the Tiger will resemble more resilience than ever.
Angel Li, duty manager for Alaska Airlines at San Francisco Airport (SFO)
“The year of the Tiger means prosperity and strength to me,” says Angel Li, duty manager for Alaska Airlines at San Francisco Airport. “As the Tiger is always looked (upon) as a guardian and a protector.”
San Francisco’s Chinese New Year Parade is back to celebrate the year of the Tiger, continuing its delightful tradition from the 1860s of heralding culture. The 2022 Alaska Airlines Chinese New Year Parade will be held on Feb. 19, 2022, with over 100 parade floats participating.
Li hopes Alaska’s parade float will represent peace, safety and love.
“I want everyone who’s been hurt the last couple of years to heal,” she said.
Throughout 2020, as the Covid-19 global pandemic spread, so did hate crimes against Asian and Asian Americans. Among many other incidents, in early 2021, Asian communities across the U.S. were shook after multiple shootings in Atlanta targeted and killed several Asian American women. Shortly thereafter, many of the Asian American community at large surveyed said they felt scared of discrimination and violence. But others came to rise in solidarity with the community, with rallies and joint efforts, including Alaska who publicly stood against the hatred. As such, 2022 feels like a great reset, especially in the context and care of the Covid-19 Crisis—when many folks felt afraid and alone, unable to safely gather with family and friends.
“I now make this a time to truly connect with my family in China over video chat instead,” Li explains. “In a way, it has helped us all grow closer.”
Nicholas Mendiola, customer service agent at SFO
And many are looking forward to celebrating again, while looking back at old traditions. Nicholas Mendiola, customer service agent at SFO, celebrates both Lunar and Solar New Years in the Chinese and Spanish traditions. His grandmother helped start the tradition of purging for the Lunar New Year: donating old items and cleaning the entire house.
Mendiola says she also made dumplings and noodles to symbolize luck and a long life. His grandmother and older aunties would distribute red envelopes with crispy bills. There was also the tradition of lighting firecrackers in the garage. With a kung fu teacher for a dad, Mendiola would sometimes perform lion head dance (choy cheng) blessings at San Francisco’s Chinese New Year parade. It’s a joyful memory.
“I love the sound of the drums and gongs,” he says. “Then after dinner, we would light off more fireworks. We loved it. So much fun!”
It’s about hope, over harassment. Family, over fear. Love, over languishing. It’s about warmth, over worry. — Nick Mendiola
As for Li, she and her parents will continue their own Lunar New Year tradition: celebrating with a large steamed fish at home.
Alaska is staging one of its most lavish parade floats, featuring all things Lunar New Year, including dozens of intricately cut-out designs to warm your heart and electrify your senses. Influenced by the earth’s natural elements, our float is meant to represent strength, resilience and welcome in the spring of a new year.
It’s the Year of the Tiger—and Strength—in San Francisco
By Tim Horn, director of station operations at Alaska Airlines in SFO
Tim Horn, director of station operations at Alaska Airlines in SFO
Asian Americans in the U.S. are growing in numbers—and in resilience.
According to the U.S. census, the Asian American population in the U.S. went up 6.3% over the last decade. In San Francisco alone, the population jumped from a little over 805,000 in 2000 to more than 873,000 in 2019.
But crimes against Asian Americans also spiked, especially during the pandemic. In October 2021, the FBI reported hate crimes increased significantly, and anti-Asian hate crimes went up more than 73 percent in 2020. Additionally, The Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at Cal State San Bernardino found a 164% increase in reports of anti-Asian hate crimes in the first quarter of 2021, compared with the same period last year—with a 140% change in San Francisco. It was a struggle, and heartbreaking for many to see and be wary of.
“While I didn’t face any violence or hostility to me personally, it was a period of high stress, frustration and anger knowing it was happening to others, and the fear that it could happen to me anytime,” said Tim Horn, director of station operations at Alaska Airlines in San Francisco.
This Lunar New Year represents so much more for many in the Bay area: courage, strength and boldness. There have been wins alongside the struggles, like raising diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) awareness and funds, such as California dedicating $10 million towards the nonprofit Stop AAPI Hate.
Officials from Alaska Airlines march alongside London Breed, the Mayor of San Francisco, in the 2022 San Francisco Chinese New Year preview parade Saturday Jan 29, 2022.
“After this past year, Lunar New Year means an opportunity to turn the page and make adjustments and new commitments toward my goal of living the best version of myself that I can,” Horn said.
Elmer Tosta, a customer service agent based in SFO
Elmer Tosta, a customer service agent at SFO, is eager to celebrate—privately and publicly—with festivities, fireworks and food. He hopes the new year will be kind.
“Hope and optimism are what I’m thinking about as we approach this new Lunar Year,” he said. “This isn’t limited to thoughts about the pandemic possibly being behind us, but also about prosperity, health, and good fortune for our families, neighbors, communities, and workplaces.”
Horn hopes we can all turn a new leaf together, as the 2022 Alaska Airlines Chinese New Year Parade float, complete with marching bands, fighting lion and dragon dances and more, comes through the city. The return of the float is a thoughtful symbol of revival.
“The float also makes me proud to work for a company that makes such a bold commitment in one of its hub cities,” Tosta said of San Francisco’s 35 percent Asian American population. “Alaska’s contribution says a lot about their strong support for diverse cultures through this public display.”
Equity and inclusion remain top of mind. Meantime, there will be many additional events in Chinatown and SF. And, Horn will be helping his own team learn more about Lunar New Year in several ways, from communications to visual displays and savory delights—using his knowledge for good.
“And of course, through yummy potlucks that delight our taste buds and also educate us on ethnic foods,” he added.
The Alaska Airlines Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco is one of the top ten Parades in the world by the International Festivals & Events Association. It’s one of the few remaining night illuminated parades in North America and the biggest parade celebrating the Lunar New Year outside of Asia.
Why @AlaskaAir has the best employees on earth, a short story
Alaska Airlines employees are some of the most kindhearted, empathetic people in the business and are there for our guests when they need it most. Recently, an Alaska employee in San Francisco, Gary, went out of his way to take care of a guest.
Here’s what happened (in her words):
I kept digging around and digging around and digging around in my stupid massive purse, but I couldn’t find my battery pack so as soon as I landed, I went to the ladies’ room and dumped all the contents of my purse out on to the counter. Aha! Found my battery.
Two hours later, I am still trying to unpack my ridiculous suitcases when my phone rings. It’s Gary from @AlaskaAir. He found my passport and dug around until he could find my phone number and called. I didn’t even know my passport was missing.
Gary wanted to know if I was planning on returning to the airport anytime soon. I told him that I would jump in the car right away and drive the hour back to the airport, but he asked me where I lived. When I told him, he said that it would be no more than a 15 minute detour for him to drop the passport off at my house. (No way. At least a 45 min detour).
Gary brought me my passport. To my door. I tried to tip him but he wouldn’t accept anything.
Can you believe this? Faith in humanity? Restored.
Not knowing who “Gary” was, we shared this story with our employees on our intranet. Employees pieced together who “GARY” was from the tweets in a matter of hours.
Meet Gary
Gary is a customer service agent in San Francisco, who helped Alaska Guest & Author Ayelet Waldman reunite with her passport in the most remarkable way.
Gary, San Francisco-based customer service agent
It was a normal day for him, he says. He stopped by Alaska’s customer service center at SFO and saw a passport lying there.
“I asked if anyone checked to see who it belonged to. No one had, so I started searching. I found out that she had flown in from Newark. I looked up her reservation, found her phone number and called her,” Gary said.
He offered to mail her passport to New York since that was her listed address, but she said it was a business address and she actually lives in the Bay Area.
“I offered to drop it off on my way home, which was slightly out of my way, but not a big deal. The rest is history,” he said. “I like to put myself in other people’s shoes and think how they would feel if they misplaced or lost something and then learned it had been found. Total joy, right?”
Waldman, a novelist and essayist, recently flew Alaska Airlines from New York to the Bay Area. She was so impressed with the outstanding customer service she received, that she shared her recent Alaska travel story with her 25,000 followers on Twitter.
As the airline sponsor of the Seattle Kraken, we’re excited to offer fans & flyers a win-win!
Play our Seattle Kraken video game and see how much you’ll save on your next flight. Plus, you’ll be entered for a chance to win two (2) roundtrip tickets to the destination of your choice when you share your email address.
Honoring Martin Luther King Jr. & beloved designer Adé Hogue
Martin Luther King Jr.’s quote, “The time is always right to do what is right,” on the side of Our Commitment aircraft is meaningful to us in more ways than one.
It reminds us to always live our values of doing the right thing and to be kind-hearted. It also holds a special place in our hearts for the beloved artist Broderick Adé Hogue, who was taken from the world too soon.
Known by friends and family as Adé, his memory & kind spirit will live on through his prominent lettering and prolific designs. Adé, was an incredibly talented, Chicago-based artist, letterer (someone who thoughtfully creates words and letters for design projects) and friend of the Alaska family.
He created the typography and color palette for our special ‘Our Commitment’ aircraft last spring. Adé found inspiration for the design in Civil Rights Movement-era imagery and was a champion for social justice through his work and personal passions. The aircraft represents our joint commitment to advancing racial equity and education with our long-standing partner, UNCF.
Adé made an undeniable impact on our team and will be remembered as a bright beacon of creativity, light and strength in the community. Below are remembrances from some of the people who he worked with at Alaska:
Adé with Jonny Mack at the reveal of the Our Commitment aircraft last spring.
I met Adé for the first time when I attended the LetterWest type conference in Salt Lake City in 2019. I was there to represent Alaska being a sponsor of the conference, but I was more excited because I was going to get to meet a lot of very creative people that I had been following on Instagram for years. Adé was one of those artists. I remember the first night Adé and some other of the event speakers were going to dinner and he invited me to come with them. He made me feel like I was a part of the crew, not just a fan boy. We spent the evening laughing and eating and over the course of the next few days I got to know him better. He was so kind and welcoming, and I knew that we would be friends.
Fast forward a year and a half later and I am tasked with creating the design for Alaska’s Our Commitment aircraft. I instantly knew that I needed to have Adé’s talent and voice on this project. We got to work together over the next few months sharing ideas and files back and forth. It was awesome to see him put his special talents into action.
The coolest moment was when we finally walked into the hangar together and got to see the aircraft in person for the first time. We both had tears in our eyes. We got to spend a lot of time talking to each other about the design and how meaningful it was. We heard from the students represented on the plane and their families about the impact we made through our designs. It was just a very special moment that he and I got to share together and one that I will remember for the rest of my life.” – Jonny Mack, marketing design manager.
“Adé had a magical way of bringing joy into every room or on your screen. I had the pleasure of first meeting him virtually to chat about the design for our blog. He said it was probably the biggest canvas he’d ever worked on, and the hardest part was the plane windows. I’ll never forget seeing his smile when the hangar doors opened as he finally locked eyes on the plane—he stood in awe of it for a while and seemed blown away—we all were—he also liked how the windows split between the lettering he designed.
Most importantly, I’ll never forget the advice and lessons he taught me in such a short time. He was so enthusiastic about life—specifically about trying new things and focusing on what made him most happy. I assumed it was artwork, but he laughed that ‘art was his job and wasn’t something he did in his spare time’ it was actually cycling. He said he loved riding his bike around the city—as a former Chicagoan myself, who loved her beach cruiser, I couldn’t agree more. His wisdom to ‘always follow your heart and do what makes you happy’ continues to carry me through the joys and challenges in life. It’s tragic losing such a sweet soul but it gives peace knowing he was doing what made him genuinely happy.” – Ali Garbino, media & content manager.
Adé grew up in North Carolina and specialized in “lettering,” or working with words and letters in design projects. He taught at DePaul University and lectured on his craft at numerous conferences and colleges. His work has been featured with Alaska, Target, Mercedes, Facebook and more.
I will forever remember him at the Our Commitment Plane reveal, silently taking in the crowd’s overwhelming reaction with the biggest smile and tears in his eyes. It was a powerful moment—you could feel that this was more than another art project for him. We owe an insurmountable amount of gratitude to Adé for his work and vision for this beautiful aircraft. I promise, as I have since I heard of his passing, to pause every time I see the Our Commitment and remember this brilliant light gone too soon.” – Cailee Lyngaas, media relations manager.
“I’ve never been more proud of a collaboration of such epic proportions. Adé was the most wonderful human who created the bold and impactful typography on the Our Commitment aircraft and his sudden passing reminds us all how fragile life is and to hug your loved ones tight. I’m hopeful Alaska will continue to honor what Adé’s words represent and to do the right thing for many years to come.” – Ingrid Barrentine, marketing photographer.
Adé is an incredibly talented and beautiful soul taken from the world far too soon. What brings some peace is knowing that his memory will live on for all of us and our guests through his amazing work on the Our Commitment aircraft. Every time we see that beautiful aircraft on the ground or in the sky, we can take a moment to stop and remember him, his smile, and how he touched us all.”- Tiffany Dehaan, MD culture learning & inclusion.
Tributes to Adé and donations continue to pour in via the GoFundMe page his family and friends set up shortly after he was involved in a tragic cycling accident in Chicago. Alaska will be making a donation to the foundation his family is creating in honor of him.
In an Instagram post in April last year, Adé shared how he was proud to check off one of his biggest bucket list items and looked forward to seeing the gorgeous plane grace the skies for the next decade. We couldn’t agree more with that and are honored to fly his typography & Martin Luther King Jr.’s words for many years to come.
https://www.instagram.com/p/COJeG50hc4f/
Our deepest sympathies go out to Adé’s family and friends. May they find peace and comfort knowing he left an undeniably beautiful mark on this earth.
SEATTLE, Jan. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Alaska Air Group, Inc., the parent company of Alaska Airlines, Inc. and Horizon Air Industries Inc., will announce its 2021 fourth quarter financial results on Thursday, January 27, 2022. A conference call is scheduled at 11:30 a.m. Eastern time/8:30 a.m. Pacific time. Interested parties may listen to the call via webcast at www.alaskaair.com/investors.
Alaska Airlines and our regional partners serve more than 120 destinations across the United States, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica and Mexico. We emphasize Next-Level Care for our guests, along with providing low fares, award-winning customer service and sustainability efforts. Alaska is a member of the oneworld global alliance. With the alliance and our additional airline partners, guests can travel to more than 1,000 destinations on more than 20 airlines while earning and redeeming miles on flights to locations around the world. Learn more about Alaska at newsroom.alaskaair.com and blog.alaskaair.com. Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK).
SOURCE Alaska Air Group
Alaska Airlines names new regional vice president of California
SEATTLE, Jan. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Alaska Airlines named Neil Thwaites as the new regional vice president of California. In this role, Thwaites will develop and deliver upon Alaska’s strategic objectives for California, a market critical to Alaska’s long-term growth plan.
An innovative, results-driven leader with diverse and international experience, Thwaites joins Alaska from TripArc, where he was vice president of air procurement in charge of airline supplier strategy and negotiations. Before that, he was at British Airways (a fellow oneworld member) for a decade, where he held various positions in London, New York, and Los Angeles, most recently as the vice president of sales for the western U.S., where he was responsible for the commercial strategy, market development and revenue-generating activities.
Neil will be based in the airlines’ Burlingame office (SFO) and report to Andrew Harrison, chief commercial officer and executive vice president.
“Neil’s extensive experience working for a global airline, growing market share and driving exceptional performance, will help us accelerate our mission of making Alaska the airline of choice for Californians,” said Harrison.
“Alaska is exceptionally positioned to grow in California,” said Thwaites. “I’m excited to lead a market strategy that will deliver the very best of Alaska to our guests here as we continue to grow our presence and network in the state moving forward.”
Thwaites graduated from the University of Brighton in the U.K. with a double major in International Business & Law. He and his family currently live in Southern California.
About Alaska Airlines Alaska Airlines and our regional partners serve more than 120 destinations across the United States, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica and Mexico. We emphasize Next-Level Care for our guests, along with providing low fares, award-winning customer service and sustainability efforts. Alaska is a member of the oneworld global alliance. With the alliance and our additional airline partners, guests can travel to more than 1,000 destinations on more than 20 airlines while earning and redeeming miles on flights to locations around the world. Learn more about Alaska at newsroom.alaskaair.com and blog.alaskaair.com. Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK).
Looking back on 2021, one thing remains certain—we’re grateful for every person who packed a bag, wore a mask and had a seat on our aircraft. And for every employee in our operation who shouldered every twist and turn along the way – thank you.
Since the pandemic began, we’ve overcome some of the greatest challenges in our 90-year history. Despite our preparation, including increasing staff and preparing for snow, this was among the most difficult holidays many of us have experienced at Alaska. Unfortunately, last week, winter weather coupled with the impact of the omicron variant on staffing levels caused significant operational challenges. We know you expect the highest standard of care when you fly Alaska. We apologize for the considerable inconvenience and are using the lessons we learned to improve.
As we look ahead to the new year, we are working hard to return to the level of service you know and expect from us while operating safely. Here are just a few things to expect from us in the coming weeks:
We’re reducing our schedule.
As we have entered 2022, the continued impacts of omicron have been disruptive in all our lives and unprecedented levels of sick calls have impacted our ability to operate our airline reliably. As a result, we are proactively thinning our schedule and reducing departures by about 10% through the end of January. This will give us the time and space we need to build back more reliability into our operation, while continued flexible travel policies will enable our guests to adjust their plans accordingly.
If your travel is impacted, we’ll make every attempt to reschedule you on the next available flight and will try to notify you with as much notice as possible before you head to the airport.
Canceling a flight is always our last resort and we understand how frustrating it can be, especially when many of us have important trips or are eager to connect with friends & family.
We’re committed to Next-Level Care.
The safety of our guests and employees always comes first, and we want you to feel great about booking a flight with us. Our commitment to Next-Level Care means we’re always maintaining the highest level of safety throughout your travels—from booking and boarding to day-of travel and beyond. Learn more.
We’re finding ways to show how much we care.
We know we are at our best when we are safe, reliable and caring. We will learn from these challenges, improve where we must and make this year as great as we possibly can for each of you, your families and for Alaska Air Group as a whole.
With gratitude to everyone who flies with us and the people who make it possible—we look forward to taking care of you on board soon.
Resetting for the new year: Alaska Airlines reduces its January schedule
SEATTLE, Jan. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — As we have entered 2022, the continued impacts of omicron have been disruptive in all our lives and unprecedented employee sick calls have impacted our ability to operate our airline reliably. We are deeply grateful for how our incredible employees have pulled together to take care of our guests and each other, operate safely and make the best of a very difficult situation. To our guests, we apologize for the considerable inconvenience and are working hard to return to the level of service they know and expect from us.
We’re at our best when we are safe, reliable and caring. And right now, we need to build more reliability back into our operation as we deal with the impacts of omicron and during a time when guests generally fly less. We’ve decided to reduce departures by about 10% through the end of January. This will give us the flexibility and capacity needed to reset while continued flexible travel policies enable guests to adjust their plans accordingly. This will also give us time and space to find our path forward together, with Covid-19 as a continued reality in our business and our world.
We will learn from these challenges, improve where we must and deliver on our promise to deliver nonstop care each and every day.
