Alaska Airlines Names New Vice President of Maintenance and Engineering

SEATTLE, Jan. 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Alaska Airlines' board of directors has elected 28-year Alaska veteran Kurt Kinder vice president of maintenance and engineering. In his new role, Kinder will lead approximately 1,000 employees and oversee all safety, compliance and operational performance of Alaska's fleet of 147 Boeing 737s. He will officially begin this position on Jan. 16, 2016.

"This is an essential role in maintaining our world-class reputation for safety, compliance and performance," said Ben Minicucci, Alaska Airlines' chief operating officer and executive vice president. "Kurt has proven himself to be a highly respected and forward-looking leader during his nearly three decades with Alaska. His unmatched focus on safety, operational excellence and employee engagement place Kurt in a strong position to further improve operations and strengthen labor relations within the department."

Previously, Kinder served as Alaska's managing director line maintenance for more than ten years. In this role, Kinder developed and implemented processes that resulted in increased fleet performance and schedule flexibility. In addition, Kurt has led in labor relations efforts, strengthening trust within his department. His first job with Alaska came in 1988 when he began washing aircraft tails. Kinder started his career in general aviation in Kent, Washington, performing electrical and structural modifications on small aircraft.

Kurt holds an MBA from the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington and completed the Aircraft Maintenance Program at Big Bend Community College in 1983. Learn more at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurt-kinder-4a411722. 

Alaska Airlines, a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK), together with its partner regional airlines, serves more than 100 cities through an expansive network in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Costa Rica. Alaska Airlines ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Traditional Carriers in North America" in the J.D. Power North America Airline Satisfaction Study for eight consecutive years from 2008 to 2015. Alaska Airlines' Mileage Plan also ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Airline Loyalty Rewards Programs" in the J.D. Power 2014 and 2015 Airline Loyalty/Rewards Program Satisfaction Report For reservations, visit www.alaskaair.com. For more news and information, visit the Alaska Airlines Newsroom at www.alaskaair.com/newsroom.

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SOURCE Alaska Airlines