Q

magnifying glass with dark circle in the middle.

Alaska Airlines celebrates enhanced partnership with Condor Airlines 

Bilateral codeshare agreement provides a more seamless travel experience for guests 

Alaska Airlines is expanding our partnership with Condor Airlines – one of our global partners since March 2017 – with a bilateral codeshare agreement that enables Alaska and Condor to sell each other’s flights. Last week, Condor began marketing and selling more than 70 Alaska routes across the U.S.

This past summer, Alaska began marketing and selling from Condor’s 12 U.S. gateway cities – including Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles (LAX) and Anchorage – to Frankfurt, Germany, the carrier’s home airport. These flights are available for purchase at alaskaair.com.

A codeshare agreement allows each airline to sell seats on one another’s selected flights as if they were their own, in a sense putting their “code” on the flights. It offers a seamless travel experience for guests across the two airlines. Flyers will enjoy the simplicity of purchasing connecting flights on both airlines using one reservation, along with seamless ticketing, check-in, boarding and checked baggage during their travel.

Tauber, Germany

We continue to bolster our international partner portfolio, giving our guests convenient access to more of the globe. Condor provides a key link with its nonstops from Alaska’s gateway cities to Europe and beyond,” said Nat Pieper, senior vice president of fleet, finance and alliances at Alaska Airlines. “We look forward to expanding our codeshare with Condor to destinations beyond Frankfurt in the near future.”  

Condor’s newest addition to its fleet is the Airbus A330neo, known for the quietest cabin in the world compared to other aircraft of its size. Condor flies the A330neo between the U.S. and Germany in a three-class configuration: business, premium economy and economy.  

The airline recently launched its new business class product with lie-flat seats that include a larger bed and wider legroom, plus a gourmet menu and beverage service. Premium economy class also offers additional legroom with footrests to help stretch out, and meal service and complimentary beverages. All classes enjoy generous storage space, state-of-the-art inflight entertainment systems with 4K monitors and Bluetooth connectivity to use with personal wireless headphones. 

Condor is expanding in the U.S. The airline recently announced it will begin new nonstop service from both Miami and San Antonio to Frankfurt in May 2024. 

Alaska is a member of the oneworld Alliance. With oneworld and our additional airline partners, our guests can earn and redeem miles all over the world through our highly acclaimed Mileage Plan program. Elite status on Alaska automatically matches tier status in oneworld so members can enjoy all the benefits that come with it right away. 

Horizon Air names 28-year industry veteran, Jason Berry, as president 

This week, the Horizon Air Board of Directors elected Jason Berry as president of Horizon Air. A 28-year industry veteran, Berry will lead strategy, oversee operations and engage the airline’s nearly 3,500 employees, as the airline continues to deliver exceptional regional air service on behalf of Alaska Airlines. Berry replaces Joe Sprague, who is retiring as Horizon president after four years and will shift to a senior advisor role at Alaska Airlines.     

Berry joined Horizon in early 2023 as senior vice president, operations. In this role he oversaw key aspects of the airline’s operations including employees in the regional carrier’s four largest workgroups.  

“I’ve had the opportunity to get to know our Horizon team over the past nine months and our employees are truly remarkable,” Berry said. “Horizon is an incredibly well-run airline, and our people have a special dedication and heart. The opportunity to lead Horizon is an immense honor.”  

Prior to his role at Horizon, Berry spent two years as vice president of cargo at Air Canada. He also previously led Alaska Air Cargo and McGee Air Services.   

Jason is a fantastic leader with a tremendous amount of industry experience and a passion for Horizon and its people,” said Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci. “I look forward to his continuing contributions to Air Group’s success and am excited to welcome him to this leadership role.”   

Berry comes from an aviation family. He started his career on the ramp while still in high school and brings years of industry experience and knowledge to his role as Horizon president.  

In 2019, Berry served as president of Alaska Airlines’ wholly owned subsidiary McGee Air Services, where he had oversight for all aspects of aviation services ground handling, aircraft grooming, aircraft mobility services, check-in and gate services.  

From 2012 until June 2019, he led Alaska Air Cargo. In this role, he had direct responsibility for all aspects of cargo operations and compliance. While there, he oversaw the transition of the Boeing 737-400 combi aircraft to next generation 737-700 freighters.  

In December 2022, Berry was named “Executive of the Year” by Air Cargo World magazine.  

Berry graduated from Central Washington University and earned an Executive MBA at the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business. He lives near Tacoma with his wife and three daughters. 

Bio

LinkedIn

Alaska Airlines pulls out all the stops for 100-year-old’s birthday

When a frequent flyer wrote in that his mother-in-law was turning 100 and wanted to celebrate on Alaska Airlines — you know, we broke out the party hats and pulled out all the stops.  

Velma is a spry 100-year old woman who lives in assisted living and still drives. She attributes her good health to a shot of Crown Royal Whiskey with water every evening.  

She loves being with her family, who live in Florida, but doesn’t travel often, according to her son-in-law. But that changed five years ago when he surprised her with a trip to Orlando on Alaska for her 95th birthday. During the flight, Velma confessed that she found flying Alaska quite enjoyable and said if she reached the age of 100, she’d do it again. 

And Velma kept her word. On Oct. 6, she boarded Alaska Airlines Flight 340 to fly to Orlando, on her 100th birthday.  

“We had so much fun,” said Flight Attendant Wendy, who along with Flight Attendants Jena, Darshan and Emily made sure Velma felt like a birthday girl.  

Before boarding, Velma got a special meet and greet with our pilots. Our agents led guests in a round of “Happy Birthday.” Once on board, the celebration continued.  

Using supplies they had on hand and crafting chops that would make Martha Stewart jealous, they fashioned empty silver coffee bags into a crown, strung pretzel and Biscoff packages into a sash and crafted paper streamers.  

And, of course, they poured her favorite adult beverage, with a splash of water (even though Crown Royale isn’t a regular item on our beverage carts).  Upon landing employees in Orlando greeted Velma with a “Happy Birthday” sign.  

Velma’s return trip the following week was equally enjoyable, with special attention from our crew on board.   

Velma and her family with the crew on her return flight. 

“It was such an honor,” said Wendy, who noted that Velma also got a nice tote of Alaska logo goodies, provided by the company. 

Now back home, Velma has the crown, sash and the sign on display in her assisted living apartment — all reminders of her birthday trip.  But it doesn’t appear that her suitcase will be gathering dust anytime soon — as she just signed up for our Mileage Plan 😊.  

 I want to thank all of the employees who made Velma’s birthday trip flights so very special,” said her son-in-law Michael who is an Alaska Million Miler. “I have flown a lot of miles on Alaska, and other carriers as well, and I know that no other airline would have done anything remotely like this to make our 100-year-old mom so happy. You have the best employees, and they really care about your passengers. This is why I continue to fly Alaska.” 

Alaska Airlines debuts new ‘Mickey’s Toontown’-themed airplane featuring Mickey Mouse and his pals at Disneyland Resort

Alaska Airlines celebrates the return of Mickey Mouse in its fleet with latest special edition aircraft

Alaska Airlines’ newest, uniquely themed aircraft will be soaring through the skies today with a touch of magic from everyone’s favorite pal, Mickey Mouse. After the big reveal of this specially themed plane at a gate ceremony in Seattle, passengers will board the inaugural flight to Orange County, Calif., to visit “The Happiest Place on Earth” at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim. Named “Mickey’s Toontown Express,” the celebrated plane is now flying on routes across Alaska’s network.

Adorned with playful images of Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, along with their pals Goofy, Pluto, Donald Duck and Daisy Duck in Mickey’s Toontown at Disneyland Park, the Boeing 737-800, tail number 565AS, is Alaska Airlines’ eighth livery in collaboration with Disneyland Resort. For the unique design – which even includes Chip ‘n’ Dale on the boarding doors and winglets – it took artists over 400 hours and 20 days to hand-paint the brightly colored aircraft exterior from nose to tail.

“It’s heartening how much our Disneyland Resort-themed airplanes spark joy in our guests — young and young at heart. What makes this even more special is the return of Mickey Mouse on an Alaska Airlines plane since he made his debut on our fleet eight years ago,” said Sangita Woerner, Alaska’s senior vice-president of marketing and guest experience. “Alaska’s long-standing relationship with the Disneyland Resort has helped to create unforgettable experiences for our guests and employees. As a family-friendly airline, it speaks to the care we strive to show everyday with these special touches.” 

Knowing the joy the Disneyland Resort-themed planes can bring to families, Alaska Airlines and Disney sent several families and special guests on the inaugural flight to experience Alaska’s everyday level of care before heading off to Orange County, including priority boarding for families with children under two, family seating at no additional charge, coloring books and the popular Kids’ Choice Picnic Pack and Jetsetter’s Jam Sandwich for guests flying in our Premium and Main Cabins. The “Mickey’s Toontown Express” plane will offer activity books and snack packs onboard with designs that feature Mickey Mouse and his pals, while supplies last.

“Our relationship with Alaska Airlines is more than 25 years strong and truly celebrates the magic of Disney,” said Sybil Crum, vice president of marketing and commercial strategy at Disneyland Resort. “The plane’s artwork marks Alaska Airlines’ eighth transformation of an aircraft featuring Disney artistry and exhibits the excitement and playfulness of the re-imagined Mickey’s Toontown. We’re so delighted for the opportunity to create even more memorable experiences for our guests together.”

The plane’s exterior artwork is inspired by Mickey’s Toontown in Disneyland Park, a whimsical and newly reimagined, animated neighborhood where families can explore, play, discover and unwind together while enjoying new interactive experiences, familiar favorites and the new attraction, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. 

Guests will be able to fly Alaska’s “Mickey’s Toontown Express” livery for the next several years before it reaches the end of its normal rotation.

Alaska Airlines’ other Disneyland Resort-themed liveries include “Friendship and Beyond at the Disneyland Resort,” which portrays larger-than-life versions of Disney and Pixar’s “Toy Story” friends Woody, Buzz Lightyear and Jessie at Pixar Pier at Disney California Adventure Park, and the “Star Wars Transport to the Disneyland Resort,” a space-black livery that celebrates Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, a 14-acre land of adventure at Disneyland Park. The space-black 737-800 boasts the iconic Millennium Falcon on the tail chased by TIE fighters.

Guests can always book their next trips to Southern California (or more than 120 other destinations) at alaskaair.com. And once there, it’s always a perfect time to visit Disneyland Resort and all the destination has to offer.

FOR MEDIA:

Download high-res images and related b-roll from our media kit.

Media Kit

Meet an Alaska Airlines leader with a disability who says he is doing what he was meant to do  

On social, Steve says he is a “dad, husband, Seattle sports fan and employment attorney” who is “funny once a year. Twice in leap years.” 

Funny and employment attorney are not terms you typically see together, but Steve, director of  Employee Relations, Mediation, and Investigations (ERMI), has made a name for himself at Alaska as a leader who cares and doesn’t take himself too seriously.  He’s also a leader with a visible disability.  

“My story in a nutshell is that I’m profoundly deaf,” Steve said. He lost most of his hearing during infancy, which affected his speech development at an early age. It’s been a life-long disability. “I don’t remember life before hearing loss, as it’s all I’ve known,” he said.  

Steve hears with cochlear implants (surgical devices near his ears, which help with sound perception). “I rely on lipreading to supplement my hearing. I also lean heavily on closed captioning in video calls,” he said. 

Steve leads a team of Employee Relations professionals at Alaska who investigate violations of our People Policy. It’s pretty heavy stuff, but something Steve believes he was meant to do.  

“I strongly believe my life experiences with deafness have led to a major part of my (and my team’s) philosophy, which is helping employees feel heard and validated through what can be a very traumatic process,” he said.  

Steve, far right, on a fun outing with his team members from Employee Relations, Mediation, and Investigations (ERMI). 

He speaks from experience, having seen bias as a kid growing up as teachers didn’t know how to accommodate his learning.  He overcame those odds, graduating from high school, getting a law degree, and passing the bar exam. 

“There’s still a stigma about disability today, but it’s less overt than it was when I was a kid,” he said.  It’s why today, he regularly reaches out as an advocate for people with disabilities on social media. He wrote a series of articles on LinkedIn titled “Flying while disabled: what works well, and what airlines can improve.” Steve is also part of ACCESS, a Business Resource Group (BRG) focused on disability advocacy for our business and encourages employees with disabilities to pursue leadership opportunities. 

I don’t normally like to toot my own horn, but when it comes to disability advocacy, that’s a different thing. I think it’s really important for employees to see that, yes, you can have a significant disability and be a leader too.” 

He says of the 250+ directors and above at Alaska, he doesn’t know of many with a disability. “That’s not a knock on Alaska,” he said. “But rather, it’s a reflection of the reality that disabled folks are significantly underrepresented in employment in general, and those numbers drop even more as you get higher into the leadership ranks.” 

Alaska has taken several measures in the last year to do better, including being the first airline to set up a Disability Office to coordinate on all areas of disability advocacy for employees and guests, achieving our goal of 7% for representation of employees who self-identify as having a disability and creating more accessible employee spaces for corporate and airport employees. 

Steve fully recommends Alaska as an employer that is doing the right thing to help employees with a hearing disability feel whole at work.  Things like having people turn their cameras on in meetings so he can read their lips and closed captioning for live meetings are game changers for employees with hearing loss. 

He regularly tells his training classes about his disability, addressing it with his signature humor. “Talking about it upfront helps people unfamiliar with a significant hearing loss like mine to see me as a fuller person and not just as “the guy with those big hearing aids.” 

Our statement on Alaska Airlines Flight 2059, operated by Horizon Air

12 p.m. Pacific, Oct. 24

Alaska Airlines is committed to sharing as much information as we can while respecting the ongoing federal and state criminal investigations and court proceedings. We have reviewed the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Criminal Complaint pertaining to Captain Joseph Emerson and, like many, are deeply disturbed by what we have learned.  

On Oct. 22, Emerson approached Horizon Air Gate Agents overseeing the boarding process for Flight 2059. Following well-established, FAA-mandated practices to authorize a jump-seat passenger, our Gate Agent confirmed that Emerson was an off-duty pilot for Alaska Airlines. He was approved to join the flight as a passenger and was seated in the flight deck jump seat. All Gate Agents and Flight Attendants are trained to identify signs and symptoms of impairment.  

At no time during the check-in or boarding process did our Gate Agents or flight crew observe any signs of impairment that would have led them to prevent Emerson from flying on Flight 2059.  

The details in the DOJ affidavit describing the actions of our flight crew are consistent with our understanding of what occurred based on debriefings with each member of the flight crew. Upon exiting the flight deck, both Flight Attendants confirmed that Emerson was escorted by a Flight Attendant to the rear of the aircraft where Emerson was placed in wrist restraints and belted into the aft jump seat. Our crew also confirmed that Emerson attempted to grab the handle of the emergency exit during the aircraft’s descent before being stopped by a Flight Attendant.      

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has a mandatory drug testing program for on-duty crew members that is administered by all airlines, including Alaska and Horizon consistent with our zero-tolerance policy for any substance abuse. This can include random testing before or after a flight, as well as reasonable suspicion testing of on-duty Pilots and Flight Attendants.    

On Oct. 22, Emerson was removed from service indefinitely, relieved from all duties and is no longer employed at Alaska Airlines. Consistent with our pilots’ collective bargaining agreement, we are consulting with our partners in labor regarding his employment status.  

We are deeply proud of our Horizon flight crew and their quick actions both in the flight deck and in the rear of the aircraft. Working together, consistent with their training, they performed their critical roles exceptionally well, representing the best of their profession.  

6 p.m. Pacific, Oct. 23

On Oct. 22, Alaska Airlines Flight 2059 operated by Horizon Air from Everett, WA (PAE) to San Francisco, CA (SFO) reported a credible security threat related to an off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot, identified as Captain Joseph Emerson, who was traveling in the flight deck jump seat. Captain Emerson unsuccessfully attempted to disrupt the operation of the engines. The Horizon Captain and First Officer quickly responded, and the crew secured the aircraft without incident.  

Engine power was not lost despite the off-duty pilot’s attempt to shut down the engines by engaging the Engine Fire Handle, also known as the fire suppression system. The fire suppression system consists of a T-handle for each engine. If the T-handle is fully deployed, a valve in the wing closes to shut off fuel to the engine. In this case, the quick reaction of our crew to reset the T-handles ensured engine power was not lost. Our crew responded without hesitation to a difficult and highly unusual situation, and we are incredibly proud and grateful for their skillful actions.  

Following appropriate FAA procedures and guidance from Air Traffic Control, the flight was safely diverted to Portland International Airport (PDX). Captain Emerson is currently in custody and the event is being investigated by law enforcement authorities, which includes the FBI and the Port of Portland Police Department. 

All passengers on board were able to complete their journey with a new crew and aircraft. We are grateful for the patience of our guests throughout this event and are reaching out to each of them individually to discuss their experience and check-in on their well-being.  

Captain Emerson joined Alaska Air Group as a Horizon First Officer in August 2001. In June 2012, Emerson left Horizon to join Virgin America as a pilot.  Emerson became an Alaska Airlines First Officer following Alaska’s acquisition of Virgin America in 2016. He became an Alaska Airlines Captain in 2019. Throughout his career, Emerson completed his mandated FAA medical certifications in accordance with regulatory requirements, and at no point were his certifications denied, suspended or revoked.  

10 a.m. Pacific, Oct. 23

On Oct. 22, Alaska Airlines Flight 2059 operated by Horizon Air from Everett, WA (PAE) to San Francisco, CA (SFO) reported a credible security threat related to an off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot who was traveling in the flight deck jump seat. The jump seat occupant unsuccessfully attempted to disrupt the operation of the engines. The Horizon Captain and First Officer quickly responded, engine power was not lost and the crew secured the aircraft without incident.

Following appropriate FAA procedures and guidance from Air Traffic Control, the flight was safely diverted to Portland International Airport. The jump seat occupant is currently in custody and the event is being investigated by law enforcement authorities, which includes the FBI and the Port of Portland Police Department.

All passengers on board were able to travel on a later flight. We are grateful for the professional handling of the situation by the Horizon flight crew and appreciate our guests’ calm and patience throughout this event.

Alaska Airlines adds new nonstops from Anchorage to New York City and San Diego

We’ll offer the only nonstop service between New York JFK and Alaska for summertime adventures; we’ll have the most nonstop destinations ever this summer from Anchorage

Alaska Airlines is connecting Anchorage to both New York City and San Diego with seasonal nonstop service this summer. Daily flights to New York JFK begin June 13, 2024, and weekly flights to San Diego start May 18, 2024. Flights are available for purchase now at alaskaair.com.

Our new nonstop between the Big Apple and the Last Frontier offers New Yorkers an easier option to get away and enjoy the wilds of Alaska with its countless outdoor adventures, rich Alaska Native culture, wild Alaska seafood, jaw-dropping scenery and history-filled towns. It will be the only nonstop service between New York JFK and Anchorage. 

Our Anchorage-New York JFK route — at 3,386 miles — will become the longest flight in our network. We’ll serve the route with our new 737-8 aircraft. It will have the longest range of any plane in our fleet — allowing us to add new nonstop destinations that we couldn’t before.

We’re eager to welcome guests to our great state from the city that never sleeps to the land of the midnight sun on Alaska’s new nonstop flight,” said Jillian Simpson, president and CEO of the Alaska Travel Industry Association (ATIA). “Summer is an incredible time to visit Alaska with our warm, long days. There’s so much to do in Anchorage and in the smaller towns nearby, mapping out your itinerary might be the toughest thing you do before heading west.”

Alaskans like to get out. Sometimes that might mean hitting all the must-sees in New York City or taking surf lessons in SoCal. We’ll make it more convenient for our guests to get there from Anchorage, as well as lots of other places: We’ll serve the most nonstop destinations ever this summer from our hub in Alaska.

With these new routes, we’ll fly to 14 nonstop destinations to and from Anchorage in the summer to the Lower 48 and Hawaii. We’ll serve all of these cities by mid-June from Anchorage: Chicago, Denver, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, New York JFK, Phoenix, Portland, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle and Seattle/Everett (Paine Field).

New Anchorage routes for Summer 2024

RouteStart DateEnd DateDepartsArrivesFrequencyAircraft
Anchorage – San DiegoMay 18Aug. 172:50 p.m.9:10 p.m.Saturday737
San Diego –AnchorageMay 18Aug. 179:00 a.m.1:45 p.m.Saturday737
Anchorage –New York JFKJune 13Aug. 198:00 p.m.7:05 a.m.Daily737-8
New York JFK –AnchorageJune 13Aug. 199:45 a.m.1:30 p.m.Daily737-8
All times local

“Alaskans love nonstop flights to and from the state. We like having great travel options and adding places such as New York and San Diego definitely fit the bill,” said Marilyn Romano, regional vice president for Alaska Airlines. “During our peak summer days, we’ll have a robust flight schedule of 63 departures a day from Anchorage.”

Alaska Air Group reports third quarter 2023 results 

Led the industry in completion rate in the third quarter

Delivered adjusted pretax margin of 11.4%, among the best in the industry despite West Coast fuel price headwinds

Flew final Airbus operating flight, completing Alaska’s transition to an all-Boeing fleet

Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK) today reported financial results for the third quarter ending September 30, 2023, and provided outlook for the fourth quarter ending December 31, 2023.

I am grateful to our people for delivering industry-leading operational performance and strong cost discipline this quarter,” said CEO Ben Minicucci. “Our 11.4% adjusted pretax margin is among the best in the industry despite external headwinds. Our investments in our all-Boeing fleet, premium seating on 100% of our aircraft and access for our loyalty members to a global alliance provide our guests with a premium domestic product that rivals any in the industry.”

Financial Highlights:

  • Reported net income for the third quarter of 2023 under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) of $139 million, or $1.08 per share, compared to a net income of $40 million, or $0.31 per share, for the third quarter of 2022.

  • Reported net income for the third quarter of 2023, excluding special items and mark-to-market fuel hedge accounting adjustments, of $237 million, or $1.83 per share, compared to $325 million, or $2.53 per share, for the third quarter of 2022.

  • Recorded $2.8 billion in operating revenue.

  • Reduced CASM excluding fuel and special items by 5% compared to the third quarter of 2022.

  • Repurchased 248,988 shares of common stock for approximately $13 million, bringing total repurchases to $70 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023.

  • Generated $271 million in operating cash flow for the third quarter of 2023.

  • Held $2.5 billion in unrestricted cash and marketable securities as of September 30, 2023.

  • Ended the quarter with a debt-to-capitalization ratio of 48%, within the target range of 40% to 50%.

Operational Updates:

  • Finished the third quarter with an industry-leading completion rate of 99.7%.

  • Completed Alaska’s transition to an all-Boeing fleet with the retirement of its A321neo aircraft in September, and reached an agreement to sell the ten A321neos to American Airlines, with aircraft sales beginning in the fourth quarter of 2023.

  • Received five 737-9 aircraft and two E175 aircraft during the quarter, bringing the totals in the Alaska and Horizon fleets to 56 and 41.

  • Provided support and relief to the Maui community following the devastating August wildfires, bringing aid to the island and donating nearly 30 million miles to assist with ongoing efforts.

  • Announced new nonstop daily service between San Diego and Atlanta, which will be the 37th nonstop destination from San Diego and the most of any airline serving the airport.

  • Launched the Mobile Verify program, providing guests with the ability to securely verify their passports before arriving to the airport for international travel.

  • Announced establishment of the Airline Venture Lab with UP.Labs, a partnership designed to build startups aimed at solving strategic challenges facing the airline industry.

  • Through Alaska Star Ventures, invested in Assaia, whose aim is to utilize artificial intelligence to optimize aircraft turn times and improve on-time performance.

  • Launched a new partnership with Portland-based Stumptown Coffee Roasters to create a custom coffee blend which will be introduced on all flights by the end of 2023.

Awards and Recognition:

  • Named for the third year in a row to Newsweek’s list of America’s Best Customer Service.

  • Recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Best Employers for Women.

Tune in:

A conference call regarding the second quarter results will be streamed online at 8:30 a.m. PDT on July 25, 2023. It can be accessed at www.alaskaair.com/investors. For those unable to listen to the live broadcast, a replay will be available after the conclusion of the call.

Full earnings financial data:

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

View full earnings financial data

Getaway Goals: score 32% off Alaska flights when the Seattle Kraken score big

The Kraken are back for another season of hockey excitement, and Seattle’s hometown airline and official sponsor of the team is getting in on the fun.

Getaway Goals

Starting with the first Kraken home game on October 17, Kraken fans can score a discount of 32% off Alaska flights when the team scores 5 goals or more in a home game. Each game unlocks a different mystery location, so follow along all season long to fill your travel calendar.

When you see the Kraken score 5 goals, head over to the Kraken social media accounts to find out where the discount code will take you and how to use it. Discounts will only be available for 24 hours, so act fast.

Priority Boarding

Just like last season, wearing your Kraken pride on your sleeve will get you priority boarding whenever you’re departing Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) or Seattle-Everett International Airport (PAE).

What does priority boarding mean exactly?  Guests sporting a Kraken hockey jersey will skate their way to the fast lane, following group C. Just be sure to listen closely to your gate agent’s announcements!

Alaska Airlines and Stumptown Coffee serve up new coffee blend fit for the skies 

Summary

In partnership with Stumptown Coffee Roasters, we’re introducing a custom coffee blend designed to taste amazing at 30,000 feet, available on all flights this fall.

Because altitude affects how food and drinks taste, Stumptown’s experts crafted a well-balanced, smooth blend to ensure every cup is deliciously enjoyable in the air.

Something new is brewing at Alaska! Together, with Stumptown Coffee Roasters, a third-wave coffee pioneer, we’re serving up a new custom coffee blend that’s specially crafted to be enjoyed up in the air — brewing this fall on all Alaska flights.

For those who don’t know, your taste buds react differently at 30,000 feet due to altitude, which can cause food and drinks to taste different from how they do on the ground. So, we flew in the experts at Stumptown to craft a custom coffee blend that ensures a well-balanced, complex flavor profile that delivers a remarkably smooth and enjoyable cup for our guests every time you fly with us.

Third wave coffee roasters like Stumptown treat coffee as a culinary art and put the focus on the coffee rather than the roasts, bringing sweetness and clarity to their cups and broadening peoples’ expectations of what coffee can be.

Having flown millions of miles fueled by countless cups of coffee, Stumptown stands out as first class. Like travel, coffee has a remarkable way of bringing people together. I can’t wait for our guests and employees to enjoy a cup of Stumptown when they fly with us.”

– Ben Minicucci

Alaska Airlines CEO

Our Custom Coffee Blend

Our journey together began with a sip of Stumptown’s Holler Mountain, its best-selling, certified organic coffee. Alaska’s medium-dark blend uses the same clean and sweet base as Holler Mountain, but with a primary focus on a roast that mellows acidity and introduces just enough toastiness to please a wide range of palates.

It’s exceptionally smooth and balanced, with aromatic notes of toasted marshmallows, browned butter and toffee with delicate hints of citrus and cherry. Additionally, Stumptown dialed in this roast to be delicious when served black or with the addition of creamer or oat milk (also coming to Alaska flights Dec. 1).

Our custom roast will be available exclusively on all Alaska flights starting this fall and will be on every flight by Dec. 1, 2023. Plus, guests can sip Stumptown in our Portland and JFK Lounges where we’ll be proudly serving Stumptown’s Holler Mountain for our brewed coffee and Hair Bender in our hand-crafted espresso beverages. Trapper Creek will also be available as a decaf option.

We wanted a crowd pleaser—something that would delight folks who enjoy milder coffees and also speak to guests who enjoy medium-bodied roasts.”

– Laura Szeliga

Stumptown President

“I hope our guests fall in love with our new custom roast as much as I did when I first tried it,” said Roman, a flight attendant in Portland, who joined employees for a tasting tour of Stumptown’s Roastery at their headquarters in Portland, Oregon. “It’s a bit lighter with an organic, cleaner finish that I think will be well received.”

Roman says after being a flight attendant for 30 years, this is a very thoughtful step for an airline to take to boost the overall guest experience.

“So many of our guests ask for a cup of coffee on board, and our roast is bound to exceed expectations,” he said. “It’s remarkable how even the smallest thing — like coffee — can brighten someone’s day.”

 

Before she became a first officer based out of Boise with Horizon Air, Alaska’s regional carrier, Sophie used to be a barista and says it was one of her favorite jobs.

 

“I enjoyed recognizing customers and remembering their coffee orders. It was refreshing to meet new people and get to know their stories just as they got to know mine,” she said. “I could probably still tell you their coffee orders today.”

 Sophie has always been intrigued by Stumptown.

“My first impression of the company was cool, edgy, and very Portland,” said Sophie. “I hope our guests will appreciate this change and know how much work went into our roast. I learned on our tour about the countless tests it took to get the blend just right for 30,000 feet. To me, that shows care, attention to detail, and quality. All the things I think our guests will appreciate.”

 

The sky-high taste test

After selecting our signature coffee, we conducted extensive brewing tests both on the ground and in the air. We did this to 1) understand how it tasted both in the air and on the ground; and 2) ensure our roast worked with all types of brewing machines on Alaska and Horizon aircraft.

More than 200 pots of coffee were brewed for the development of this project.
We tested over 20 variables, including changes in grind, dose, filter paper and filter-pack dimensions to make sure the inflight experience will wow our guests.
Multiple flight tests and blind customer surveys were conducted to ensure the taste tests met what you’d expect from a cup of Stumptown coffee on the ground.
We even taste-tested the coffee with Alaska’s inflight milk and Biscoff cookie to ensure both paired beautifully with the coffee we landed on.
As the #1 airline on the West Coast, Stumptown joins Alaska’s portfolio of leading West Coast brands including Tillamook, Beecher’s Cheese, Salt & Straw, Seattle Chocolates, Fremont Brewing, Evergreens and Straightaway Cocktails.

“I think the Alaska custom roast will be a real crowd pleaser. It’s super approachable, full bodied and subtly sweet. I was very excited to be invited to the tasting at Stumptown and see the roasting process and all their equipment. Those guys are the real deal! This is a big come up for all of us, and I think our guests will be excited to get a fresh cup of coffee from a great PNW brand.”

– Sara

Alaska Airlines First Officer

A West Coast Pairing

More than two decades ago, Portland, Oregon’s beloved Stumptown led the third wave — a craft movement in coffee sourcing and roasting emphasizing quality and sustainability — in the Pacific Northwest and beyond through its uncompromising commitment to craft and unwavering dedication to its top-tier roasting methods, partners and the planet.

As a Certified B Corporation and global brand with cafes in Portland, Los Angeles, New York and Kyoto, Japan, Stumptown is committed to sustainability in its cafes, breweries, roasting and manufacturing facilities. The company is rolling out plans to reduce energy, water consumption and achieve zero landfill-bound waste in the manufacturing operations by 2025, which aligns with Alaska’s goal to be carbon net zero by 2040.

As the premier West Coast airline, Alaska shares an appreciation for craftsmanship and a commitment to innovation and sustainability. We were the first airline to implement an inflight recycling program; the first to eliminate plastic cups, straws and stir sticks on board; and the first to offer guests the ability to pre-order meals and snacks. We feature dozens of West Coast-based food and beverage brands on board and have a long history of collaborating with partners who share our commitment to the planet, our communities and to providing caring service.

For Media:

Looking for stills, b-roll, logos of our partnership with Stumptown? Look no further!

Press Kit
Explore alaskaair.com

About Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines, the premier West Coast airline, and our regional partners serve more than 120 destinations across the United States, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica and Mexico. We strive to be the most caring airline with award-winning customer service and an industry-leading loyalty program. As a member of the oneworld alliance, and with our additional global partners, our guests can travel to more than 1,000 destinations on more than 25 airlines while earning and redeeming miles on flights to locations around the world. Learn more about Alaska at news.alaskaair.com and follow @alaskaairnews for news and stories. Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group. 

About Stumptown
Founded in Portland, Oregon in 1999, Stumptown Coffee Roasters is a pioneer of the Third Wave coffee movement and direct-trade sourcing and is credited with the creation of the cold brew coffee category. A Certified B Corporation and global brand with cafes in Portland, Los Angeles, New York and Kyoto, Stumptown coffee and cold brew can be found in thousands of grocery stores and wholesale partners across the U.S. Connect with Stumptown on social media: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok. 

Related News & Stories

View all

‘If you can see it, you can be it’: How one flight inspired this employee’s career

Julio spent every summer with his sister in Mexico to visit family. On one of his flights, the flight attendant asked if he wanted to say hi to the pilots. He said yes, and up they went to the flight deck. The pilots gave Julio a pair of wings, asked him his name and let him press a button. And in that moment, an aviator was born.

“Even though I was only up there for a minute I thought – ‘Oh my gosh, this is what I want to do with my life,”’ said Julio.

That moment also subconsciously conveyed a message that would shape his future. Julio saw possibilities for himself, even if he couldn’t fully comprehend it as a child. “The crew all looked like me because we [my sister and I] were flying a Mexican airline. I didn’t know it at the time, but I thought, well, I could do this,” he said.

Navigating the dualities of two worlds growing up

Julio is the proud child of immigrants – his parents, seeking a brighter future, arrived in the US in the late 80s during the Reagan era. They navigated the complexities of immigration and were granted amnesty which helped guide their process to becoming citizens.

Julio was the first in his family to be born in the US and grew up in a diverse neighborhood in Southern California. In his early years, Julio shied away from speaking Spanish, his first language, both at school and in everyday interactions.

He longed to fit in and not stand out, but he also struggled to find his place among the Latino kids at school who conversed in Spanish. “I just wanted to be like everyone else, so I only spoke English,” said Julio.

Like generations of immigrants before them, children of immigrants often become “language brokers” – those who linguistically translate for family members who do not fluently speak the language of the country they live in. This additional responsibility was no different for Julio and his sister. 

“My sister is four years older than me, and we just had to figure things out on our own. I remember any time we had a parent-teacher conference, or we had to go to the doctor, or anywhere, I felt like we had to be the adults because we had to translate everything for them,” said Julio

A young Julio waits in line at Disneyland for the Haunted Mansion.

Chasing his aviation dreams

With dreams of becoming a pilot, Julio was uncertain how to begin. His parents consistently encouraged him to do well and stay in school, but being unfamiliar with the American higher education system, it was up to Julio to chart his own path.

“I didn’t know any pilots, so in my junior year of high school everyone’s asking, ‘oh where are you going to go to college?,’ and honestly, I just started Googling ‘aviation’ and ‘how do you become a pilot?’,” Julio laughed as he shared this. In his searches, one school always popped up – Embry-Riddle – and he talked to his counselor, applied in his senior year and was accepted.   

Julio flew to Daytona Beach to tour the campus and had his schedule. The final step was securing finances to pay for it. “I remember thinking, wow, this is so expensive I can’t afford this, and I would never want to put my parents in a situation where they’d have to sign a house mortgage for me to go to school,” said Julio.

His counselor suggested he take Embry-Riddle’s online course, which he did for two years, but financial constraints still kept him from affording flying lessons. So, it was on to plan b. On the brink of turning 21, Julio applied to be a flight attendant. It was also during this time that he began to embrace his Mexican heritage openly.

“I was hired as a bilingual flight attendant and flew all over. I’d help people fill out their immigration forms or ask them about their connections and help them get through the customs process,” said Julio. “In that moment, I really embraced being proud to speak Spanish because I knew that’s what my parents went through [having someone translate for them]. I thought to myself – this is who I am, and it’s cool that I’m bilingual and Mexican, instead of hiding it.”

On layovers with crew he shared with the pilots he’d always wanted to fly planes. They consistently urged Julio to chase his dream and that propelled him to go back to college and finish his last two years. After six years, he left his career as a flight attendant to dedicate himself to pilot training full-time. He got his ratings and then became an instructor before moving to a regional airline. Today, he’s a first officer for Alaska.

Julio’s journey to becoming a pilot was different from the typical route, but his serves as an inspiring reminder of the power of perseverance and believing in one’s dreams. His parents were also a big inspiration – watching them work so hard their whole life, and never giving up.

Julio smiles as he celebrates his graduation from Kennesaw State University.

“I wouldn’t really share this with a lot of people, but after my first experience meeting those pilots that summer, every candle I blew out on a birthday cake, every penny thrown in a fountain, anytime 11:11 was on a clock, or whenever I saw a shooting star, I always wished to be a pilot. My whole life – please let me be a pilot one day,” shared Julio.

His words of wisdom: “If you have a goal, just do whatever it takes to make it happen. Because one day, your dream will come true.”

September 5 was Julio’s check ride (basically a final exam) and in late September, he flew his first flight at Alaska.

5 destinations that should be on your list this fall

Fall is a wonderful time of year to travel — the crisp air, changing leaves and abundance of seasonal activities create an atmosphere that invites exploration. Whether you’re looking for a family vacation, an extended getaway or a long weekend somewhere there are plenty of great places worth exploring within our network.

Here are five places to visit this fall, with some tips to help plan your trip with confidence.

Atlanta

Like most Southern cities — Charleston and Savannah among them — Atlanta is a great place to visit in the fall if you’re searching for warmer fall weather. We also just announced new service starting this spring from San Diego to Atlanta, our largest unserved transcontinental market from San Diego.

Atlanta, Georgia, USA skyline from Peidmont Park.
Flights to Atlanta

Austin

Whether you’re ready to rock at a music festival or tap into your best fall-self, autumn in Austin is prime time for patio sitting, pumpkin picking or enjoy a nostalgic drive-in movie and join in the football frenzy fun (burnt orange is an every-kind-of-season color around here).

An infamous Texas Longhorn silhouetted against a colorful sunset.
Flights to Austin

Florida

While you may not be breaking out the sweaters here, there are plenty of reasons to visit the Sunshine State this fall. Alaska is adding new flights to Florida just in time for the cold and darker days to set in, with more than a dozen flights a day to Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Fort Myers and Fort Lauderdale.

As part of our commitment to Southern California, we’ve added new, daily nonstop flights between San Diego and Tampa (TPA) as of Oct. 5. With convenient daytime schedules, award-winning service and a premium product offering, guests will arrive refreshed and ready-to-go from coast-to-coast.

Fort Lauderdale Beach at Dawn

Maui

Hawai‘i residents and visitors are encouraged to make travel plans to Maui and support the island’s businesses, restaurants, retail outlets, attractions, and accommodations. West Maui accommodations will begin to reopen to visitors on Oct. 8, and the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority advises travelers to check with individual accommodations in West Maui for their reopening plans.

As travelers return to Maui, you will help to sustain jobs, keep businesses open, and support the community. For Alaska, this marks over 15 years of flying to Hawai‘i, and we want to help keep the islands strong and beautiful for many future generations to enjoy so remember to mālama (care for) the island while you’re there.

Flights to Maui

San Francisco

Fall is a golden time of year in SFO. Cozy crisp evenings, clear nights and warm temps during the day make up the perfect combo to go exploring! Plus, enjoy a nice 1.5-mile walk, run, bike, roller skate or skateboard sesh along JFK Drive (free from cars).

Flights to San Francisco

Travel with confidence:

Download our app

Use the Alaska Airlines mobile app to check in beginning 24 hours before your flight and get a mobile boarding pass to your phone.

Pre-order meals

Reserve your favorite meal on the app or online up to 20 hours before your departure.

Lounge about

Relax in our Lounges at Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York – JFK, Portland, or Anchorage before your flight.

Give yourself time

Give yourself plenty of time to get to and through the airport. We recommend arriving at the airport 2 hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours for international.

Earn miles

Add your Alaska Mileage Plan number to your flight to earn miles for every flight you take with Alaska Airlines or any of our partner airlines. Not a member? Join today.

Stream & chat

Watch over 800 free movies and TV episodes in our entertainment library. And, enjoy free texting while you fly, by simply connecting to our Wi-Fi.

Loading...