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Hey Canada! Alaska Airlines launches new nonstop service between Seattle and Toronto 

For the first time, we’re linking our home airport and Canada’s largest city; our guests can also connect on flights with Porter Airlines in Toronto, our newest global partner

Starting today, Alaska Airlines is flying our new daily, nonstop flight between our home airport in Seattle and Toronto Pearson International Airport – our newest destination and the sixth Canadian city we now serve. Tickets, with convenient departure and arrival times, are available for purchase at alaskaair.com.

Book flights to Toronto

In Toronto, guests can enjoy the city’s rich culture or catch a flight from Toronto Pearson with our 30th global airline partner, Porter Airlines, to destinations across Eastern Canada and beyond, including Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, Halifax and St. John’s. These Porter flights and others are available for one-way purchase at alaskaair.com with more booking options coming this summer.

“There are so many opportunities with our new service between our hometown airport and Toronto, from tremendous leisure travel options to connecting a pair of key business regions in North America,” said Kirsten Amrine, vice president of revenue management and network planning for Alaska Airlines. “Toronto has a lot to offer. And for our guests looking to venture into other areas of Eastern Canada, Porter Airlines can take them there with its signature onboard service.”

Toronto is the largest city in Canada along the shores of Lake Ontario. For visitors, the possibilities are endless with its bustling downtown and walkable neighborhoods, stunning parks, rich history and diverse restaurants and entertainment. 

“We are very excited to welcome Alaska Airlines to Toronto Pearson. Their service to Seattle will provide much-needed capacity to the market and enhance customer choice,” said Kurush Minocher, Executive Director, Customer Experience and Airline Relations, Greater Toronto Airports Authority. “Last year, over a third of passengers traveled between Toronto and Seattle, and we’re delighted to enable this service for thousands of passengers while simplifying travel to the West Coast, Alaska and Hawaii.”

Alaska continues to add international options for travelers out of SEA Airport, providing a wide array of unique, adventurous experiences,” said Lance Lyttle, SEA Airport Managing Director. “Ease of access throughout the continent brings Eastern Canada closer with more competition.”  

New Seattle-Toronto nonstop service

Times are local

Porter Airlines began new flights to Toronto from two of our West Coast hubs in January: Los Angeles and San Francisco. Those flights, along with flights connecting on Alaska throughout our West Coast network, can also be purchased at alaskaair.com. 

Across Canada, we also fly to Calgary, Edmonton, Kelowna, Vancouver and Victoria. While Toronto is a brand-new destination for us from Seattle, this isn’t the first time we’ve flown to Eastern Canada from the West Coast. In the early 90s, we flew nonstop service between Los Angeles and Toronto.

Our guests can take advantage of a premium travel experience on their next Alaska flight. We are the West Coast’s premier airline offering our flyers the most legroom in First Class* and Premium Class; no change fees; multiple fare offerings; the most generous loyalty program with Mileage Plan with the fastest path to elite status; 30 global partners; and West Coast food and beverage on board. We’re also making it easier for our guests to buy tickets and earn Mileage Plan miles with our domestic and global partners directly at alaskair.com.

For inflight entertainment, our guests can enjoy hundreds of free movies and TV shows streamed to their devices. Our flights are also enabled with streaming-fast satellite Wi-Fi available for purchase and the option to pre-order from a range of fresh meal selections. Our mainline flights also offer power outlets at every seat to charge devices.

* Out of any U.S. airline excluding lie-flat seats   

Our statement on FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024

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Alaska Airlines applauds the passage of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, which will provide the FAA and the national airspace with long-term stability, critical staffing and infrastructure investments, essential safety enhancements, and more. We commend the House Transportation and Infrastructure and Senate Commerce Committees for their important work.

You gotta pay the rent. Why not reward yourself? Use your Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card to now earn triple Mileage Plan miles with Bilt Rewards 

Bilt Rewards members can now transfer points to Mileage Plan miles. Plus, now you can earn 3x miles when you pay rent via Bilt with your Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® card.

Paying your rent is just one of those must-do’s. But how about earning something valuable for that regular monthly expense? You can now use your Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® card to pay your rent through Bilt and earn three Mileage Plan miles for every dollar you spend, up to $50,000 a year. Miles can then be redeemed for free flights with Alaska or with our vast network of global airline partners at alaskaair.com.    

Special offer for Alaska Visa Signature® cardholders

In mid-March, Alaska announced our new partnership with Bilt Rewards.

How it works:  

When you join Bilt Rewards, you earn points for what you pay in rent and neighborhood spend. Bilt Rewards points can then be converted to Mileage Plan miles at a 1:1 ratio: Every 1,000 Bilt Rewards points equals 1,000 Mileage Plan miles.  

Now, you can link your Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® card to pay your rent using Bilt and earn triple miles instead of Bilt points, which will automatically be deposited to your Mileage Plan account. 

Learn more about BILT x Alaska Airlines
Learn more about Alaska’s Mileage Plan

This innovative new partnership with Bilt will enable our guests who rent to get even more value from their Alaska Visa Signature card and builds upon our industry-leading loyalty offering,” said Brett Catlin, vice president of loyalty, alliances and sales at Alaska Airlines. “Our guests can use their miles for travel on Alaska and our oneworld and additional global partners to 1,000+ destinations across the world.”  

“From the Northwestern tip of Alaska to the most southeastern point of Florida, at Bilt we want to continuously reward our members no matter where they live in the United States,” said Bilt Rewards CEO, Ankur Jain. “As one of the most loved brands in aviation, this first-of-its-kind partnership with Alaska Airlines not only broadens Bilt’s members’ ability to travel everywhere Alaska and its partners fly but also exemplifies our commitment to providing Americans with more valuable ways to earn and redeem rewards on their largest monthly expense, rent, and within their local neighborhood.” 

About Bilt Rewards

Bilt Rewards is the first program for consumers to earn rewards on rent and daily neighborhood spend while creating a path to homeownership.    

Through a partnership with the country’s largest owners including Greystar, Asset Living, AvalonBay, Equity Residential, Related Companies, GID, Starwood, Cushman & Wakefield, Bozzuto, Camden, Brookfield, Berkshire Residential, ZRS, Highmark, Beztak, Trammell Crow, PGIM and more. Bilt Rewards enables renters in more than three million units across the country to earn Bilt Points just by paying rent, while these owners benefit from resident loyalty, cost savings and a share of revenue. 

Bilt Rewards boasts one of the highest value rewards programs on the market today, including one-to-one point transfers to 12 loyalty programs allowing members to travel across over 100 major airlines and hotel partners. Members can also book travel through the Bilt Travel Portal powered by Expedia; book fitness classes at the country’s top boutique studios including SoulCycle, Solidcore, Rumble and Y7; shop limited-edition and exclusive collections of art and home decor through the Bilt Collection; shop on Amazon.com; or redeem Bilt Points for credits towards rent or even towards a down payment on a future home. 

Terms & Conditions

Terms, conditions and fees apply to earn miles with the card. Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® cardholders must link their card to their Bilt account to receive this offer. Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® cardholders who take advantage of this offer will be opted out of earning Bilt points when paying their rent through Bilt with their Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® card and will earn Alaska miles instead.  

The Alaska Airlines credit card program is issued and administered by Bank of America, N.A. Visa and Visa Signature are registered trademarks of Visa International Service Association and are used by the issuer pursuant to license from Visa U.S.A., Inc. 

This post was originally published on March 15, 2024 and updated to highlight the special credit card offer.

Alaska Airlines promotes Shane Jones to senior vice president of fleet, revenue products and real estate; Horizon Air names Nathan Engel as vice president of maintenance and engineering

The boards of directors of Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air announced two leadership additions today, promoting two industry veterans into important roles at each of the airlines.

Both bring forward-thinking leadership and proven abilities to execute on complex initiatives that have a direct impact on strengthening Alaska Air Group’s safety and reliability, growing our operations and financial results, and giving guests a premium experience when they fly with us.

Alaska Airlines promotes 20-year industry veteran Shane Jones to senior vice president of fleet, revenue products and real estate

Alaska Airlines has promoted 20-year industry veteran Shane Jones to senior vice president of fleet, revenue products and real estate.

Shane Jones

Jones, who joined Alaska in 2018 as vice president of real estate and development, has managed the airline’s strategy and $3 billion investments in hub airports, focused on enabling growth, enhancing the guest experience at airports, and ensuring safe, reliable and efficient operations.

Additionally, he leads the business strategy for growing ancillary revenues and guest choices through new revenue products and business partnerships.

In this expanded role, Jones also will lead the development and planning of mainline and regional aircraft and overall fleet strategy, including working with aircraft manufacturers, original equipment manufacturers, and lessors on safety and quality assurance, opportunities to improve sustainability through aircraft design and management, optimizing delivery schedules and financing.

“With the addition of fleet strategy, Shane’s new role connects our Commercial growth strategy across our hub and airport investments to the critical investments we are making in our aircraft over time,” said Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci. “At the heart of this work is the customer experience, whether it be on board our future aircraft, in our lobbies or gates, or through the new products and partnerships his team is developing.”

Jones will report to Alaska’s Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Harrison, with a dotted line reporting relationship to Executive Vice President of Finance and CFO Shane Tackett.

Prior to joining Alaska, Jones spent 13 years at Delta Air Lines, where he served as vice president of corporate real estate and airport development, responsible for Delta’s global airport and real estate assets. He also served as manager of capital markets, where he worked on restructuring and renegotiating Delta’s aircraft leases.

Horizon Air names 36-year industry veteran Nathan Engel as vice president of maintenance & engineering

Horizon Air named 36-year industry veteran Nathan Engel as vice president of maintenance and  engineering, overseeing a critically important function of the airline’s focus on safety and reliability.

Nathan Engel

In this role, he will manage the long-term strategy and financial performance of Horizon’s maintenance & engineering workgroup, leading a team of over 300 industry professionals who are deeply committed to the airline’s culture of safety. Among his responsibilities are line maintenance operations, airframe/component/engine maintenance, quality assurance, maintenance planning, engineering and reliability, fleet projects, and stores and distribution.

Engel steps into this role from a multi-decade career in maintenance and engineering leadership, with deep experience at Alaska and Horizon and broader experience from other companies.

“Nathan’s extensive background and expertise in commercial aviation maintenance and relentless focus on maintenance’s critical role in ensuring safety and reliability will be pivotal in this role,” said Horizon Air President Jason Berry. “In addition, he is a people leader, focused on driving performance and collaboration, which makes him a valued addition to our Horizon Air leadership team.”

Previously, Engel served as managing director of maintenance and operations at both Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, responsible for strategic and operational leadership for line, heavy, and on-call maintenance, maintenance control, and quality control. He also worked for Amazon and most recently for Hawaiian Airlines as senior manager of maintenance in Seattle.

He is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.

Honoring those who serve: Alaska Airlines salutes members of the U.S. military & their families

At Alaska, we are so very grateful for the service of active duty military and veterans and appreciate the personal sacrifices they and their families make for us all. We take seriously our responsibility to care for our military guests, and we prioritize it with every flight.  

Here are some of the ways we show our care—from booking to landing and everything in between. 

Special military fares 

We offer special military fares to active duty military and their dependents in some markets. These fares apply to service members traveling on an official excused absence, and those discharged from active duty military service in any one of the US military agencies.

Learn more 

Priority boarding 

When it’s time to fly, listen closely to the announcements at the gate. Our gate agent will offer active members of the military the opportunity to board the flight early. Stow your bags before most guests and settle into your seat to relax.

Our Boarding Process 

Check 5 bags for free 

For active duty US military personnel, and military dependents with travel orders, we’ll check your first 5 bags for free.

Learn more

Save on inflight purchases 

Members of the military and their families get a 15% discount on food purchased during a flight with us. Just show your military ID to our flight attendant, and then prepare to snack.

Browse our inflight food menu 

Lounge access 

Alaska Lounge Day Passes are complimentary for U.S. military personnel traveling on official government-sponsored travel booked through SATO and ticketed to fly on an Alaska flight departing within 3 hours. All other active duty military personnel with a valid Military ID, traveling on a paid or award ticket, may purchase a day pass at the discounted rate of $30 when traveling on Alaska. Available in all Alaska Lounge locations, subject to space availability. A valid Military ID must be presented.

Learn about day passes 

Receive a WeSalute discount 

We offer a discount on our flights for members of WeSalute. If you’re already a member, sign into your WeSalute to redeem your discount. If you’re not yet a member, enroll today to start saving on Alaska Airlines flights. 

Learn more

Fly with four-legged friends 

Trained service animals travel for free with proper documentation. Plus, we offer active military members and their dependents a pet shipping discount on Alaska Air Cargo.

Learn more.  

We’ve got your back. 

No matter what direction life takes you after your service, we’ll continue looking for ways to support you and your families, and to show you that we’re grateful for all you’ve done. 

Thank you, heroes. 

We are fortunate to work with the Honor Flight Network to provide complimentary travel and reduced fares for veterans on specially planned tours of Washington D.C., to honor them for their military service. Since 2012, we have flown nearly 5,000 veterans to the D.C. Area on over 100 Honor Flights. 

Alaska Airlines aircraft technicians created and implemented the “Fallen Soldier Program” in 2011. This process ensures that military protocols are followed when handling the remains of fallen service members being flown to their final resting place on Alaska Airlines. Watch video 

Honoring the fallen and their families. 

The conversations and dedication of a thoughtful group of employees was the catalyst for the creation of the Alaska Airlines Fallen Soldier program, which allows us to pay proper tribute to soldiers on the way home to their final resting places. Learn more about the program 

In partnership with Boeing, we are proud to unveil our specially designed “Honoring Those Who Serve” aircraft, , which pays tribute to U.S. military members, veterans, fallen soldiers and their families. The design features a new patriotic paint scheme with symbolic imagery representing all six branches of the US Armed Forces: Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Space Force. See all our commemorative aircraft. 

Our largest (& hardest) tributes to service members. 

Between Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, our combined fleet has four special aircraft to honor those who serve. The designs—adorned on two Alaska Boeing aircraft and a Horizon E175—feature an Alaska Airlines Salutes medallion and a fallen soldier badge, with the Battlefield Cross to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. The planes also feature rings surrounding the engines, representative of the branches of the United States military, and American flag winglets. Our fallen hero carts now include the six branches of the military—The Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force and Coast Guard—and our aircraft will reflect that in the future.  

Donating miles goes a long way. 

We’ve made it simple for our guests to donate extra Mileage Plan miles to the Hero Miles program, to help injured service members and their families to stay connected during treatment.  

The Honor Flight Network’s Lone Eagle Program is our newest member of our CARE Miles program, ensuring that all veterans, regardless of their geographic location in the U.S., are able to participate in an Honor Flight trip.  The Lone Eagle Hub honors veterans of all service eras, but gives priority to those who served during WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam Era and the time periods between these conflicts. Since 2008, Alaska Airlines has donated more than 90 million hero miles to support these initiatives. Donate miles 

Pilots, aircraft technicians, flight attendants – employees throughout Alaska and Horizon – balance full-time work schedules with service in the military reserves and National Guard. Read full story: Balancing work and duty: Stories from those at Alaska who serve in the military reserves 

Thinking about your next career? 

We’d love to help you join our team. Alaska has a long history of recruiting military talent. We work with groups like Camo2Commerce to learn how to help service members and their spouses use their military training and experience in civilian positions.  

Our Business Resource Group—Military, Veterans and Allies (MVA)—supports current and future military and veteran employees with career development, promotes education and awareness, and provides networking opportunities. Explore the possibilities 

It’s our pleasure. 

We are honored that employee-led efforts like those above, along with tributes from individual employees and our company’s work, have been recognized with the Employer Support Freedom Award from the Department of Defense. Serving and supporting service members and veterans is a privilege, and we are committed to continuing our efforts in any way we can. 

Thank you, again to all service members, past and present. 

Countdown begins for travelers to obtain REAL ID for domestic flights

The one-year countdown is officially underway to obtain your REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses and identification cards. With the REAL ID Act, Americans must ensure they have compliant identification by May 7, 2025, to continue accessing federal facilities and boarding domestic flights per the Department of Homeland Security.

Beginning May 7, 2025, every air traveler will need to present a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, or other acceptable form of identification, to fly within the United States.

The REAL ID Act is a federal law.

If you like to use your driver’s license as your main identification to get through TSA security checkpoints at the airport, it’s crucial to make sure it’ll be REAL ID-compliant and ready to fly starting May 7, 2025.

To get flyers ready for this significant transition, we’re providing a resource for our guests, employees and the public to get the latest information about REAL ID and its fast-approaching changes.

Learn more

Here are some key things to know:

  • Beginning May 7, 2025, your driver’s license will need to be REAL ID-compliant if you want to use it to fly within the U.S. It’s part of a law passed by Congress. If your license is not compliant, and you don’t have another acceptable form of ID, you’ll have trouble getting through airport security.

  • State licensing agencies and motor vehicle departments are expecting long lines and wait times in the months leading up to May 2025. If you want your driver’s license to be REAL ID-compliant, now’s the perfect time to make the upgrade because the rush is coming. Why not check this off your list now?

  • REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses and the processes to get them are different state to state, which can be confusing. In most cases, you’ll need to bring additional documentation to get a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, and you might even need to make an appointment. A few states, like Oregon, have not yet begun to distribute REAL ID-compliant licenses, so residents should refer to their state licensing agency or motor vehicle department websites for details and plan accordingly.

  • Many states identify their REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses with a gold star in the upper right corner, which indicates they’ll be ready to use at airport security checkpoints starting May 7, 2025. But some states, such as Washington, do not use gold stars for REAL ID-compliant licenses.

  • You do have a choice. If you want to fly after May 7, 2025, with other acceptable identification – for example, your U.S. passport or a U.S. military ID – you can do that instead. Just remember to bring that ID to the airport.

Frequently Asked Questions

Congress passed the REAL ID Act in 2005 in an effort to strengthen identification rules at airports. The act established minimum security standards for state-issued driver licenses. Under the law, state driver licenses and ID cards have to be issued only to people who can prove they are legally living in the United States. If state licenses don’t meet the standards, then federal agencies – such as the TSA – will not accept them.

You’ll be turned away and not allowed to go through a TSA checkpoint if you don’t have another form of approved identification. And you’ll miss your flight.

Currently, the DHS has indicated the enforcement of the REAL ID Act starts on May 7, 2025. At that point, standard driver licenses issued by some states – such as Washington – will not be accepted by the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) at U.S. airports. TSA will accept enhanced driver licenses, since they have established your identity and U.S. citizenship.

No, it’s up to you to decide what’s best for your travel needs. You can use a current U.S. passport or a U.S. military ID at the airport to get through TSA security after May 7, 2025, just like you can right now. Just remember to bring it. Having a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license is convenient for many of us because it’s something we always carry with us. Other acceptable forms of identification is found here.

Some states, like California, mark their REAL-ID-compliant licenses with a star. Other states, like Washington, do not. (Samples provided by state motor vehicle departments)

Click on the state where you live to find out more on how to get a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license:

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Alaska Airlines launches new way for guests to join the journey to help make air travel more sustainable

Alaska is the first U.S. airline to link guest participation in sustainability to loyalty with an accelerated path to elite status.  

As part of Alaska Airlines’ longstanding journey to make air travel more sustainable, the airline will now give guests the choice to voluntarily reduce the environmental impact of their travel with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) credits during the booking process. Guests can choose to support SAF in an amount based on 5%, 10% or 20% of their carbon impact when they book a ticket on alaskaair.com.

Building on a successful pilot in late 2023, Alaska’s Mileage Plan™ members who buy SAF credits will once again earn elite-qualifying miles (EQMs) for their contributions. Mileage Plan members will receive 500 EQMs for every $100 they spend on SAF (up to 5,000 EQMs per year), for a sustainability-linked way to accelerate the path to elite status. Alaska is the first U.S. airline to create a link between guest engagement in SAF and earning elite status.

“Alaska is on a journey to make air travel more sustainable with an ambitious goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2040. Now we are inviting our guests to join us on the journey,” said Diana Birkett Rakow, senior vice president of public affairs and sustainability, Alaska Airlines. “Today, we’ve launched new options for guests to customize their travel experience, take action on the environmental impact of their trip, and help us scale the market for SAF. SAF is a critical part of aviation’s path to a more sustainable future, and while we use it today, there is not enough SAF available. It will take all of us to grow this market. The more people who know about and support this important technology, the better we can impact efforts to make a sustainable future for air travel a reality.”  

With this new feature in the booking process, powered by climate technology company CHOOOSE, the SAF credit options will appear on the same page as other optional trip add-ons during the booking process. The SAF credit option is based on carbon emissions associated with the guest’s flight and follow the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Recommended Practice 1726 (Passenger CO2 Calculation Method). This calculation method leverage parameters including aircraft fuel consumption, flight path, seat configuration, cabin class, and load factors sourced directly from Alaska’s operational data.  For guests who want to support SAF equal to their full emissions of their flight, they can do so by visiting alaskaair.chooose.today. 

Alaska’s sustainability strategy is centered on care – caring for our guests, our employees, the communities where we live and work, and the planet we all share. Alaska is focused on immediate actions and long-term investments that are aimed to reduce carbon emissions and waste, as well as protect local ecosystems. SAF is a safe, certified fuel that, according to IATA, can lower carbon emissions by 80% or more on a lifecycle basis. It can be used in existing fuel systems and airplane engines. Since 2010, Alaska has worked with a coalition of partners to drive the growth of the SAF market.  These efforts include programs with Microsoft and other companies to offset employee business travel, partnering with universities and scientists to leverage the latest research and knowledge, and advocating for public policy to advance SAF.

To learn more about SAF and how to have a role in Alaska’s sustainability journey visit alaskaair.com/sustainability.

Alaska Airlines launches new options for guests to support sustainable travel

Alaska is the first U.S. airline to link guest participation in sustainability to loyalty with an accelerated path to elite status.   

We’re excited to share a new way you can join us on our journey toward a more sustainable aviation future.

Now, when you book your flights with Alaska Airlines, guests will have the option to reduce their environmental impacts by purchasing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) credits right in the booking path. You can choose to support SAF in an amount based on 5%, 10%, or 20% of your emissions when you book on alaskaair.com (mobile app feature coming soon!).  

Plus, Alaska Mileage Plan™ members who buy SAF credits can earn elite-qualifying miles (EQMs) for their contributions! For every $100 spent on SAF, you’ll score 500 EQMs (up to 5,000 EQMs per year), giving you a boost on your journey to elite status. 

SAF is a critical part of aviation’s path to a more sustainable future, and while we use it today, there is not enough SAF available. It will take all of us to grow this market,” said Diana Birkett Rakow, senior vice president of public affairs and sustainability, Alaska Airlines. “The more people who know about and support this important technology, the better we can impact efforts to make a sustainable future for air travel a reality.”   

Click to enlarge

Now, when you’re booking your trip, you’ll see SAF credit options in the booking process as part of the other options, powered by climate technology company, CHOOOSE. The SAF credit option is based on carbon emissions associated with the guest’s flight and follow the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Recommended Practice 1726 (Passenger CO2 Calculation Method). This calculation method leverage parameters including  aircraft fuel consumption, flight path, seat configuration, cabin class, and load factors sourced directly from Alaska’s operational data.   

How it works:
The example above is a simplified calculation to demonstrate what you can pay to address the carbon emissions of your booked flight(s) (excluded service fees).

“Alaska is on a journey to make air travel more sustainable with an ambitious goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2040. Now we are inviting our guests to join us on the journey,” said Rakow. “We’re proud to be the first U.S. airline to make this connection between guest engagement in SAF and earning elite status.” 

Want to support SAF and cover even more of your trip?
Visit alaskaair.chooose.today to do so! 

Join Base Chief Pilot JP Wilson for a journey through Alaska Airlines’ path to net zero carbon emissions by 2040. We reflect on the impact of aviation on our planet and explore sustainable solutions for the future of air travel.

Learn more

Our EverGreen Journey 

We have prioritized immediate actions and long-term investments –being the first airline to remove plastic straws, water bottles and cups on board – aimed to reduce our carbon emissions and waste, and to protect local ecosystems. We know we can’t make this journey alone and are working closely with innovative partners across the globe to inform our sustainability work and enable new solutions for the future. 

SAF is a safe and certified fuel that, according to IATA, can slash carbon emissions by a whopping 80% or more over its lifecycle. And the best part? It can be used in all the aircraft and fuel systems we already have. Since 2010, Alaska has worked with a coalition of partners to drive the growth of the SAF market.

These efforts include programs with Microsoft and other companies to offset employee business travel. We’ve also been working with universities and scientists to stay up to date on all the latest research and knowledge when it comes to SAF. Plus, advocated for public policy to help advance SAF. 

Learn more about our Evergreen Journey

Parting gifts from Guatemala: Alaska employees go above & beyond to delight guests

When was the last time you received a handwritten note? Perhaps it was a quick memo from a coworker, a reminder left on the counter to take out the trash or a card on your birthday. Maybe you don’t even remember. What was once a common courtesy and necessity has slowly faded away in favor of instantaneous, digital communications.

However, there is a small but mighty team in Central America who still believes in the power of putting pen to paper.

Last year, Alaska made history by adding Guatemala City (GUA) to the list of destinations we serve non-stop daily from the West Coast. Daily service between Los Angeles (LAX) and Guatemala City (GUA) has not only been closing the distance between cities, but also connecting the people and cultures that call the two places home.

Customer service agents (CSAs) have played a big role in that.

For many, there are a lot of aspects of traveling that can feel monotonous. But thanks to a few employees, the boarding process in Guatemala City has been reinvigorated with the hospitality and warmth the country has to offer.

Prior to each departure from Guatemala City, control and boarding agents find time in their busy schedules to handwrite notes for every First Class and MVP guest. When guests arrive at their seats, they’re greeted with a short, personalized note that speaks to a much greater message; it sets a tone of value and positivity for their entire journey. As part of our values, this tone is echoed in everything we stand for as a brand: being remarkable means being welcoming and hospitable to everybody who boards one of our aircraft.

The process is as heartfelt as the gesture itself. Customer service agents, in the midst of their bustling tasks, find moments of quiet to write these notes,” says Krystal C., director station operations Latin America. “Each message is a reflection of the individuality of the recipient, whether it’s a warm welcome, a wish for a pleasant journey, or a note of appreciation. This task, though simple, is imbued with the team’s genuine desire to create an unforgettable & premium experience for our guests.”

“It spoke of a bygone era of travel, where every journey was an occasion, and every passenger, a guest of honor,” said Fernando C., GUA station operations manager.

While times have changed, our commitment to delivering a premium experience for every guest remains the same. For the GUA team, travel is truly a labor of love.

This initiative was completely homegrown and is one of the reasons why people choose to fly with us,” said Rick H., managing director of operations. “The GUA team saw an opportunity to connect and appreciate some of our most valued guests. The initiative continues today, and guests have taken notice of it. I’m incredibly proud of each member of the GUA team!”

Did you know? With the additions of Guatemala and the Bahamas in December, we now serve six countries from the West Coast. 💙✈️

Book your next flight to Guatemala!

Chart your flight path: Insider tips from aspiring and legendary pilots at Alaska Airlines

Video by Karina Matias & Ingrid Barrentine

Mohammed Hakeem always had a deep passion for aviation.  

As a child, he would often make the trek from Los Angeles to Fiji aboard a Boeing 747-400. Those trips with his family led him to fall in love with flying, and he quickly knew it was something he wanted to do for the rest of his life.  

In 2017, Mohammed took his first step into the realm of air travel and joined Alaska Airlines as a customer service agent (CSA) at San Francisco International Airport. Following a quick promotion, he became a lead CSA across the bay in Oakland, then eventually transitioned to a flight attendant in 2019.  

But even after attaining two different roles in the airline industry, he still dreamed of becoming a pilot. He wanted to recognize his parents’ sacrifices and make them proud by achieving his ambition. 

As a Fijian American, he also recognized the importance of seeing skilled individuals who looked like him in the captain’s chair and wanted to be a part of that change.

I have always dreamt of becoming a pilot. Growing up, I was told by adults that my dream was too ambitious and that it wasn’t practical. But I held onto that dream, and it eventually became a reality for me,” said Mohammed. “Being a part of the industry which I’ve loved all my life helped me realize that my dream was indeed attainable.” 

Following some research and a push from a friend, in early 2023, Mohammed applied to Alaska Airlines’ Ascend Academy, a multi-year program with Hillsboro Aero Academy in Hillsboro, Oregon, that takes prospective pilots from zero experience to commercial flight. He is now working toward graduation, where he will transition into working as a pilot for Horizon Air.  

“Trust the process, move at your own pace, and always believe in yourself! You will make mistakes, but you will learn and grow from them. Trusting the process can be grueling especially when we compare our progress amongst our peers. It is not a race but a journey–one we cannot complete if we do not truly believe in ourselves the entire way.”  

– Mohammed Hakeem

Meet some of our legendary pilots 

Last year, Alaska Air Group recognized the careers of some pilots, naming them “Alaska Legends” and “Horizon Air Pathfinders,” an honor for those who always look up, push higher, put others first, and have been doing so for over a decade.  

Captain Julie Thiele was an art major before switching to aviation and had to overcome severe motion sickness in her journey to becoming a pilot. Today, she is the director base chief pilot at Anchorage International Airport. 

Captain Julie Thiele | Photos by Joe Nicholson

Captain Geoff Nelson’s first flight was in Juneau, Alaska for a glacier tour. He immediately knew he was hooked. With a tenure of more than 20 years, he has worn multiple hats including flying guests, teaching in the classroom, and performing duties as a technical pilot. 

Captain Geoff Nelson | Photos by Joe Nicholson

Captain Rich Loudon came to the airline following a full Navy career; in addition to his role in the flight deck, he has built essential training courses for Alaska pilots and is a revered expert in the industry for his work on Human Factors.  

Captain Rich Loudon | Photos by Joe Nicholson

You literally have the best office in the world, with ever-changing breath-taking view. Feeling the exhilaration of climbing away from the earth on every takeoff has never failed to keep me smiling. What a privilege. In addition to that, the aviation career is filled with high performing people that make it safe, fun and highly rewarding.” 

– Captain Rich Loudon

Along with the rest of their cohort, these individuals exemplify the care and expertise our pilots aspire to. As Rich celebrates 32 years as an Alaska pilot and Mohammed is just starting his journey to the flight deck, it remains as important as ever to provide and recognize expertise, hire pilots from various backgrounds, and ensure that our employees have opportunities to pursue their dreams.  

Pathways to a pilot career 

Interested in becoming a pilot yourself? While we participate in recruitment events at select universities, military bases, and industry events, we also have designed a pipeline to carry prospective pilots from their first step to the first officer’s chair at Horizon Air and Alaska Airlines. Here are some of the ways you could end up at Alaska Air Group: 

Ascend Pilot Academy  

 If you have no experience as a pilot or have some flight experience but have yet to obtain your private pilot license, check out Alaska’s Ascend Pilot Academy. Over the course of 13-18 months, students in the program train to become commercial pilots and flight instructors, obtaining private pilot licenses, instrument ratings, commercial pilot licenses, and eventually certified flight instructor certificates and CFIIs. Over the following two years, they log hours toward the FAA’s 1500-hour requirement to fly for Horizon Air.  

Ascend Pilot Academy
Horizon Air Pilot Development Program 

If you already have a private pilot license, the Horizon Air Pilot Development Program is another way to pursue your career goals. We recognize that when you’re a student pilot, finding the right support and guidance for your job can be challenging. By enrolling in our Pilot Development Program, you can receive a $12,500 stipend, get mentoring from a professional pilot, and join special events. After completing the program and meeting all qualifications, graduates are assigned a class date with Horizon Air.  

Horizon Air Pilot Development Program
True North 

True North is a recruitment program aimed at hiring BIPOC pilots at Horizon Air. The program includes reimbursement for up to 80% of all flight lab fees, ongoing mentorship, and apprenticeship or direct hire placement into an entry-level position. Like Ascend and Pilot Development Program, True North places hires on the fastest path to employment at Alaska Airlines. 

True North
The Alaska Airlines Pilot Pathways Program 

While Ascend, the Pilot Development Program and True North each seek to prepare prospective pilots for work at Horizon, the Alaska Airlines Pilot Pathways Program aims to provide the most direct flight path for Horizon pilots seeking to become pilots for Alaska Airlines. Horizon and Alaska Airlines share a goal to create a rewarding career at the Air Group family of airlines and to make the move from regional to a major airline, if desired, as simple as possible. Following a successful Pilot Pathways Program interview, Horizon pilots are placed onto the “Pathways List” in order of their Horizon seniority number and are then in line to be directly hired to Alaska Airlines.  

Alaska Airlines Pilot Pathways Program

Join our talent community to stay updated on application dates and job openings. 

Alaska Airlines expands presence in Southern California with new routes and increased service to popular West Coast destinations

Starting this fall, we’re adding nonstop routes from San Diego and Los Angeles, as well as offering our largest Southern California schedule in recent years  

Alaska Airlines is expanding service at two of its major hubs in Southern California with new routes and additional capacity to popular West Coast destinations as part of the carrier’s ongoing commitment to growth in the state. 

Starting this fall, we’re adding our 39th nonstop destination from San Diego with service to Las Vegas. We’re also starting new service between Los Angeles and Pasco, as well as bringing back guest favorite Los Angeles to Reno. Guests can now book these new, nonstop routes on alaskaair.com with service beginning Oct. 1, 2024.

We’re also proud to announce we’re adding more flights to destinations we already serve out of Los Angeles International Airport, increasing capacity by more than 25%, including to Boise, Medford, Portland, San Jose, Santa Rosa and Seattle.

As the only airline based on the West Coast, we’re committed to growth in Southern California, and I’m excited that we will offer our largest schedule out of the region in recent years; with our new services from Los Angeles to both Reno and Pasco as well as increased options to the destinations our guests visit most frequently. This new schedule also solidifies our title as the airline serving the most nonstop destinations from San Diego with our new service to Las Vegas,” said Neil Thwaites, regional vice president of California at Alaska Airlines.

“We are pleased to see Alaska Airlines continue to grow at San Diego International Airport and offer new routes to destinations across the country,” said Kimberly Becker, president and CEO of San Diego County Regional Airport Authority. “This new nonstop route to Las Vegas will offer yet another option for Southern Californians to travel to this city of lights and entertainment while providing Nevadans easy access to our beaches and sunshine in San Diego.”

In Los Angeles, we’ll start to fly our expanded schedule on Oct. 1, 2024 when we’ll offer the most daily flights to West Coast destinations of any airline from LAX. 

“LAX looks forward to new routes and expanded services from Alaska Airlines, adding to their existing robust portfolio of flight offerings to and from our airport,” said Doug Webster, interim chief operations and maintenance officer at Los Angeles World Airports. “We are grateful for the opportunity to continue to grow our partnership with Alaska Airlines and are pleased to see their commitment to offer our guests a variety of travel options to meet their needs.”

All our guests across our expanding network can take advantage of a premium travel experience on their next Alaska flight. We are the West Coast’s premier airline offering our flyers the most legroom in First Class* and Premium Class; no change fees; multiple fare offerings; the most generous loyalty program with Mileage Plan with the fastest path to elite status; 30 global partners; and West Coast food and beverage on board. We’re also making it easier for our guests to buy tickets with our domestic and global partners directly at alaskair.com.

* Out of any U.S. airline excluding lie-flat seats   

Cultivating community and giving back: Alaska Airlines’ commitment to care for Hawaiʻi 

On a warm, overcast morning, a group of volunteers from Alaska Airlines came together on the lush grounds of Ka Papa Loʻi ʻO Punaluʻu to celebrate Earth Day by tending taro patches. More than 20 Hawaiʻi-based Alaska team members and their families gathered in the spirit of mālama ʻāina – caring for and honoring the land – at the three-acre agricultural site nestled in a rural community on Oʻahu’s windward coast. 

“It’s really exciting,” said Ashlyn Onaga, Honolulu Station Supervisor. “It’s my first time here—I’ve wanted to do something like this for a while to give back to the community and help our ʻāina (land).” 

The taro plant, known as kalo in the Hawaiian language, holds special significance in Native Hawaiian culture. Kalo was brought to Hawaiʻi by the first voyagers to reach the islands. In ancient moʻolelo (storytelling), kalo was part of the creation story, nourishing all Hawaiians. Tending to the plants and the loʻi (patches) they grow in is part of a reciprocal relationship between land and people. 

In observance of Earth Day, a group of Alaska Airlines team members and their families tended taro patches at Ka Papa Lo‘i ʻO Punaluʻu

 

Shannon Cheng and Ashlyn Onaga shape mounds of soil protecting young kalo plants. 

The University of Hawaiʻi, in partnership with Kamehameha Schools, maintains Ka Papa Lo‘i ʻO Punaluʻu. Dozens of plants grow in irrigated wetland patches, connected by a flowing stream. The restoration of the loʻi and streamflow also led to the return of native birds and other plants and animals. Ka Papa Lo‘i ʻO Punaluʻu welcomes volunteers several weekends a month to help clear invasive plants, maintain the streamflow, and care for the growing kalo.  

Joshua Mateo clears debris from the streambed, which helps to maintain water flow to the kalo patches.
The Padilla ‘ohana remove weeds growing around kalo plants 

Having volunteers working with the loʻi and the kalo is really important to normalize these experiences,” said Ryse Akiu, who helps to manage Ka Papa Loʻi ʻO Punaluʻu. “It gives people an opportunity to build pilina (connection) and relationships, not only with Punaluʻu and all the things that exist here but also with each other.” 

“Laulima is a word that we use, meaning cooperation and teamwork, and that’s what we do through loʻi work,” Akiu continued. “We have to work together to accomplish some of these huge tasks.” 

This spirit of laulima is also at the heart of Alaska Airlines’ ongoing partnership with Kanu Hawaii. This nonprofit organization  started Volunteer Month Hawai‘i, which is observed throughout April.  

“‘Kanu’ in Hawaiian means ‘to plant,’” said Keone Kealoha, Executive Director of Kanu Hawaii. “Our aim is to plant seeds of responsibility and community today to foster positive change for tomorrow.”  

Founded by 40 individuals concerned about preserving the community spirit and ‘aloha’ they grew up with, Kanu Hawaii has evolved into a vast network, hosting the largest volunteer opportunity platform in the state.  

“Alaska Airlines gave us our first sponsorship, our first major donation, and they continue to innovate,” said Kealoha. He added that Alaska’s work with Kanu is, “not just a hat tip or nod to a good idea. It’s a gateway to a deeper commitment and promise to our kids and our place.” 

In 2018, Alaska was the first major business in the visitor industry to sign on as a sponsor of what was then Volunteer Week Hawai‘i, a local celebration of National Volunteer Week. Today, the partnership continues with Alaska helping to promote the ‘Pledge To Our Keiki’, inspired by similar global commitments, to advocate for a sustainable and inclusive future for Hawai‘i’s children.  

SIGN THE PLEDGE TO OUR KEIKI

Since its launch, thousands of people have signed the pledge, which Alaska promotes via pre-trip materials and digital platforms.  

“The pledge is a statement – it’s about awareness,” said Kealoha. “But we want to make it easy for people to actionize the pledge, so we’ve connected it to volunteer activities, in person, virtually, or remotely.” 

For visitors to Hawai‘i who want to take action in support of the pledge, Kanu Hawaii recently collaborated with the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority to launch the Mālama Hawai‘i Volunteer Dashboard. This online tool allows visitors to search for local volunteer opportunities tailored to their interests and the location and dates of their trip. 

SEARCH FOR VISITOR VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

For our team working at Ka Papa Lo‘i ʻO Punaluʻu, the experience was an opportunity to connect with each other and strengthen their ties to the community.  

Volunteers link arms and drag their feet through the rich loʻi soil to propel water flow
David Beyer, Director of Risk Management, and his son Chandler 

It’s important to take care of our planet,” said sixth-grader Chandler Beyer, son of David Beyer, director of risk management at Alaska. “We can help preserve our planet and preserve everything we have for future generations to come.” 

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