Horizon Air welcomes new CEO/president, and new chief operating officer
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Alaska Air Group announced today that Gary Beck will be Horizon Air’s new CEO and president, and Constance von Muehlen will be Horizon’s chief operating officer.
Outside of work, pilot shares the gift of flight to lift others
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Scratch the surface of almost any pilot and you’ll find a kid who dreamed of flying.
When Alaska Airlines First Officer Erin Recke was little, she wanted to fly jet fighters. But it wasn’t until one significant day in her mid-20s when her dream really took off.
“I took a flying lesson just for fun,” she recalled. “But I fell in love the minute we left the runway. I knew right then that flying was going to be my career.”
She built her private pilot’s license into a commercial one, as her planes grew from a single-engine prop to a corporate jet to CRJ’s at a regional airline based out of Atlanta. But the Pacific Northwest called her back home, as did the chance for a job at Alaska.
“I knew the odds of them hiring me would be much greater if I had a Seattle address,” she said, “so I moved here and commuted every week to ATL.”
Her return also gave her the chance to reconnect with a lifelong friend Maureen Griggs, who owns a 1964 Beechcraft Bonanza. And the chance to use her time off to do what she does at work: Fly.
But this time, she would fly for those most in need.
Fear of Flying Clinic helps nervous flyers overcome anxiety to get off the ground
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Music executive Oscar Flores was so nervous about flying that he hadn’t been on an airplane in 22 years.
Thanks to the Fear of Flying Clinic and some caring Alaska Airlines volunteers, Flores gained the courage to fly from Portland to Kansas City to surprise his mother for her birthday.
“I survived!” Flores said after his recent round-trip flight on Alaska Airlines.
That exclamation was music to the ears of Alaska flight attendants Lynn Hodges and Chris King, whose volunteer efforts with the Fear of Flying Clinic helped Flores take a big step that was more than two-decades in the making – and create some priceless memories with his family.
“My entire family told me how proud they were of me,” Flores said.
Flights in Northeast canceled because of massive winter storm
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UPDATE: 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 4
Alaska Airlines and Virgin America continue to keep close watch on a massive winter storm that’s causing problems today in the Northeast with heavy snow and blizzard conditions.
Both airlines have canceled an additional six flights Thursday (Jan. 4) and seven flights Friday (Jan. 5) in and out of New York Kennedy, New York LaGuardia and Newark. Depending on the weather and recovery efforts at the airports, more flights could be canceled.
Since Wednesday, Alaska and Virgin America have canceled more than 85 flights to and from Boston, the three airports in the New York City area and Philadelphia due to the winter storm.
Alaska and Virgin America have implemented flexible travel policies that waive change and cancellation fees for guests who would like to alter their plans to or from affected airports. Learn more at alaskaair.com.
All customers are encouraged to check the status of their flights online at alaskaair.com and virginamerica.com, or on Alaska’s mobile app before leaving for the airport.
#iFlyAlaska: See the top photos from our flyers in 2017
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People, places, planes! In 2017, we saw more than 58,000 mentions of #iFlyAlaska across social media. Our guests shared stories of employees going above and beyond for them, stunning landscapes from Alaska to Costa Rica, and many shots from the wing. We’re closing out the year with some of our favorites.
Join the conversation in 2018: follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+ and Instagram and make sure to tag your posts with #iFlyAlaska. We can’t wait to follow your adventures.
Wishing you a happy new year!
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Video: Kevin Durant and Alaska Airlines deliver some holiday cheer in the Bay Area
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Feel-good Friday: After guest lost her purse, Alaska ‘restored my faith in humanity’
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Lauren Whiteside of Anchorage, Alaska was recently flying on Alaska Airlines on her way to Austin, Texas, when she experienced utter panic. She’d lost her purse with all her valuables inside.
The saga started when she arrived in Seattle after taking a red-eye from Anchorage and had only 25 minutes to get on a flight to Los Angeles, where she would connect to Austin.
In her rush, she left her purse – with her ID, money and credit cards – on the plane.
She realized her mistake just as the flight to L.A. hit cruising altitude.
“Aaaand then I freaked. Full-freak-out-tears-flowing mode,” she later wrote in a Facebook post.
Alaska Airlines ready to tackle wintry conditions at Sea-Tac and Portland
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When winter weather is forecast, preparation is essential for Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air and Virgin America– especially when it comes to the potential for light snow and ice in Seattle and Portland, which are primary hubs.
Whenever conditions get too cold and moisture is present, there’s a chance frost or snow can accumulate on aircraft surfaces. When this happens, a plane needs to be deiced so its surfaces can be clean and clear before takeoff. This season, significant changes have been made in how that work gets done.
Hawaiian Airlines Partners with Mana Up to Support Isle Entrepreneurs
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HONOLULU – Hawaiian Airlines today announced it has become the exclusive airline partner of Mana Up to support the group’s mission to accelerate the growth of island-based retail and food entrepreneurs. The agreement builds on Hawaiian’s longstanding history of sourcing local products to offer guests an authentically Hawaiian travel experience, while helping expand opportunities for companies to gain exposure to a global audience.
“Our flights are the ideal platform to introduce millions of visitors and our kama‘āina to Hawai‘i-made products, but companies often have difficulty scaling their operations to meet our high volume and global supply chain,” said Avi Mannis, senior vice president of marketing at Hawaiian Airlines. “Mana Up can bridge this gap by helping companies adapt their production to the demands of larger businesses such as Hawaiian’s.”
"With growing consumer demand for connection to culture and personal narratives, the door is wide open for authentic Hawai’i products, yet they have only a small share of the multi-billion dollar market. And while top Hawai’i brands generate more than $300 million annually, most struggle to scale beyond a few hundred thousand. Mana Up is going to change that," promises Meli James, Mana Up co-founder along with Brittany Heyd and Michael Cheski.
Through its 12-week accelerator program starting next month, Mana Up will build distribution channels through partners and digital platforms, connect companies to a network of advisors, help craft an attractive narrative for expansion and host workshops. As revenue grows, Mana Up will help companies understand how to meet production demands.
Hawaiian Airlines anticipates the Mana Up program will help it significantly increase the millions of dollars the carrier spends annually on locally made products to serve its guests. Hawaiian features an array of island goods aboard its flights, among them Maui Brewing beer, Ocean Vodka, as well as food from La Tour Bakehouse and Honolulu Cookie Company.
About Mana Up
Mana Up is a new initiative designed to build Hawai’i’s next 100 product companies earning $1 million or more in annual revenue. Mana Up has a 12-week accelerator program offered biannually to enable Hawai’i product entrepreneurs to scale their businesses. Mana Up’s title partner is Kamehameha Schools, also joined by partners Ulupono Initiative, American Savings Bank, Hawaii Technology Development Corporation and INNOVATE Hawaii. Mana Up is located at the historic Dole Cannery, with the support of Castle & Cooke and Dole Plantation as part of their community initiatives to support local Hawai’i products and businesses. For more information and to apply, please visit manauphawaii.com.
About Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian®, the world’s most punctual airline as reported by OAG, has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of the past 13 years (2004-2016) as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Consumer surveys by Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure have placed Hawaiian among the top of all domestic airlines serving Hawai‘i.
Now in its 89th year of continuous service, Hawaiian is Hawai‘i’s biggest and longest-serving airline. Hawaiian offers non-stop service to Hawai‘i from more U.S. gateway cities (11) than any other airline, along with service from Japan, South Korea, China, Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa and Tahiti. Hawaiian also provides approximately 170 jet flights daily between the Hawaiian Islands, with a total of more than 250 daily flights system-wide.
Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA). Additional information is available at HawaiianAirlines.com. Follow updates on Twitter about Hawaiian (@HawaiianAir) and its special fare offers (@HawaiianFares), and become a fan on its Facebook page (Hawaiian Airlines). For career postings and updates, follow Hawaiian’s LinkedIn page.
For media inquiries, please visit Hawaiian Airlines’ online newsroom.
Hawaiian Airlines to Implement “Smart Bags” Restrictions
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HONOLULU – Hawaiian Airlines today announced it will no longer accept smart bags containing non-removable lithium ion batteries as checked or carry-on luggage beginning Jan. 15. These batteries have been known to short-circuit, posing a safety risk for airlines.
Smart bags featuring removable batteries may be carried on and stored in the overhead bin as long as they remain turned off for the duration of the flight in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Regulations regarding lithium ion batteries. Passengers may check a smart bag if its battery has been removed. The detached battery, which must be carried in the cabin, will need to have its terminals isolated to prevent a short circuit.
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), a smart bag may include features such as:
- Lithium ion battery and motor allowing it to be used as a personal transportation device, either as a stand-up scooter, or sit on vehicle. These devices do not meet the criteria of a mobility device.
- Lithium ion battery power bank that allows charging of other electronic devices such as mobile phones, tablets and laptops.
- GPS tracking devices with or without GSM capability.
- Bluetooth, Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) and Wi-Fi capability.
- Electronic baggage tags.
- Electronic lock(s).
- Lithium ion battery, motor and tracking device (GPS) allowing the bag to self-propel and ‘follow’ the owner.
About Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian®, the world’s most punctual airline as reported by OAG, has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of the past 13 years (2004-2016) as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Consumer surveys by Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure have placed Hawaiian among the top of all domestic airlines serving Hawai‘i.
Now in its 89th year of continuous service, Hawaiian is Hawai‘i’s biggest and longest-serving airline. Hawaiian offers non-stop service to Hawai‘i from more U.S. gateway cities (11) than any other airline, along with service from Japan, South Korea, China, Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa and Tahiti. Hawaiian also provides approximately 170 jet flights daily between the Hawaiian Islands, with a total of more than 250 daily flights system-wide.
Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA). Additional information is available at HawaiianAirlines.com. Follow updates on Twitter about Hawaiian (@HawaiianAir) and its special fare offers (@HawaiianFares), and become a fan on its Facebook page (Hawaiian Airlines). For career postings and updates, follow Hawaiian’s LinkedIn page.
For media inquiries, please visit Hawaiian Airlines’ online newsroom.
Feel-good Friday: Reuniting a girl with her stuffed dog takes a village of caring employees
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In a child’s world, losing a toy is upsetting. But for a 4-year-old girl named Rougen from Coos Bay, Oregon, the polka-dotted, stuffed dog named Bubba left behind on her flight was more than just a toy. It was a memory of her brother.
Alaska is the most fuel-efficient airline for 7th year, also lands on Dow Jones Sustainability Index
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Alaska Airlines ranks No. 1 in fuel efficiency for U.S. airlines for the 7th consecutive year.
Alaska led all 13 major U.S. carriers as the most fuel-efficient airline operating in the United States in 2015 and 2016, according to a report released today by the International Council on Clean Transportation, an independent, nonprofit research organization based in Washington, D.C.
“Alaska burns about 13 percent less fuel (per passenger mile) than the industry average, it’s a profitable airline, and it’s done this for seven years running,” said Naya Olmer, lead author of the study.