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Alaska Airlines joins Assaia’s strategic partner community

The 5th largest US airline, known for its award-winning passenger experience and genuine caring service, is set to play an important role in the ongoing optimization of turnaround operations by collaborating on the development of Assaia’s AI-based technology.

Alaska Star Ventures, the investment arm of Alaska Airlines, is announcing its latest commitment to improving efficiency and sustainability with an investment and equity stake in AI company Assaia. With this investment, Alaska becomes a member of Assaia’s Strategic Partner Community (SPC) in support of the development of AI-based turnaround technology.

The members of the SPC use their wide experience of operating airports and airlines to provide both strategic and tactical counsel to guide the development of Assaia’s portfolio of products for managing and optimizing ramp operations. Known for running one of the most reliable operations in the U.S., Alaska brings expertise to the collective challenge of improving aircraft turnaround. Their investment in Assaia underpins their belief in Assaia as the leading provider of turnaround optimization technology.

Assaia uses AI to reduce turnaround times and improve on-time-performance, which in turn improves the passenger experience. It does so by enabling real-time responses to increase gate availability, and ensuring safety on the ramp. In addition, by focusing on taxi-in time reduction and auxiliary power unit usage limitation, airports and airlines can use the resulting data to make significant strides in their sustainability goals.

Pasha Saleh, Corporate Development Director for Alaska Airlines, said, “Using technology to move the aviation industry forward is in Alaska’s DNA, and our investment in Assaia is the next embodiment of that commitment to innovation. Our teams have already been using Assaia to improve our aircraft turn processes, and we’re thrilled to help expand technology that will make us safer, more efficient and able to offer an even better guest experience. This partnership represents the future of machine learning applications in aviation and will translate into significant advances in our industry.”

Assaia’s SPC is poised to grow over the next year. Anyone – airports, airlines and ground handlers – interested in joining should contact Assaia to learn more about this community and how they can help to shape the future of digital and automated apron operations.

Max Diez, CEO of Assaia, said, “Alaska Airlines has wide and deep experience of airline operations and a strong track record in on-time performance. That expertise is going to be invaluable as we continue to develop our technology, and expand the number of airlines and airports using it. Ultimately, this will help the entire aviation industry to improve safety, reduce emissions and improve on-time performance.”

About Assaia

Assaia International AG is an aviation software company that is on a mission to use technology for the optimisation of the aviation industry. It uses a combination of Artificial Intelligence and computer vision to provide airports and airlines with complete visibility of turnaround operations at the airport. 

Assaia gives airports and airlines control over turnaround operations, enabling them to predict issues and automate processes to make it more efficient. Assaia’s solutions create a safer, faster and sustainable ecosystem so passengers can feel confident they are traveling on time, safely and sustainably. 

www.assaia.com

Cougs or Dawgs? Alaska Airlines unveils new aircraft in honor of Washington State University and the University of Washington 

This fall we’re bringing not one, but two brand new aircraft into our fleet with fresh paint highlighting our commitment to Washington state’s largest universities. Alaska also expands support of WSU, becoming the official airline partner of WSU Athletics.  

We’re taking college pride to new heights with the debut of two newly themed aircraft showcasing Washington State University (WSU) and the University of Washington (UW).  

Just in time for the fall semester with football season in full swing, our E175 “Go Cougs” aircraft will take to the skies on Saturday, Sept. 23, from Seattle (SEA) to Pullman (PUW) ahead of WSU’s matchup against the Oregon State Beavers. On Oct. 3, the “Go Dawgs” special UW-themed aircraft will be introduced to fans departing Seattle (SEA) to Portland (PDX). 

#N661QX (“Go Cougs”)

“The new Go Cougs aircraft celebrates the productive partnership between Washington State University and Alaska Airlines,” said WSU President Kirk Schulz. “We are proud to have Alaska Airlines as a continued supporter of our educational programs and research pursuits, particularly in the development and adoption of sustainable aviation fuels. Together, we will help transform the future of air travel across the state, region, and world.” 

#N662QX (“Go Dawgs”)

“Our shared values and commitment to our region are why the UW is proud to partner with Alaska Airlines, and we are thrilled to see the purple and gold on their aircraft. This is another exciting step in the UW’s continued partnership with Alaska Airlines, an innovative and deep-rooted Pacific Northwest company that adds so much to our local and state economy, as well as fostering connections across the world as a member of the oneworld Alliance,” said Ana Mari Cauce, president of the University of Washington. 

This is the third iteration of both special aircraft dedicated to the universities. The planes, tail numbers #N661QX (“Go Cougs”) and #N662QX (“Go Dawgs”), will be flown by Horizon Air, Alaska Airlines’ regional sister carrier. These college-themed aircraft (liveries) are one of many ways guests can celebrate their school spirit year-round. 

Since launching our first university-themed livery almost 20 years ago, we know that few things get local fans as excited as seeing their school’s colors on the side of the hometown airlines’ airplanes,” said Joe Sprague, Horizon Air president.  

Our commitment to education and expanding our support of WSU   

We’re proud to fly to all five cities across Washington and Oregon where WSU has campuses nearby: Pullman, Spokane, Tri-Cities, Everett and Portland (near the Vancouver, WA campus).  

We believe in strengthening and supporting the communities our employees, neighbors and guests call home, and in Eastern Washington, we’ve been honored to support those communities for more than 40 years. Caring for the communities we serve extends far beyond making air travel accessible. It’s about forging connections, fostering job opportunities, volunteering, donating miles to nonprofits and inspiring the next generation of aviation.  

Photos by Joe Nicholson

As part of our new sponsorship with WSU Athletics for the 2023-2024 school year, Alaska will be the athletics department’s official airline partner. We look forward to special gameday giveaways — at basketball and football games — that include sweepstakes for a chance to win tickets and air travel to the 2023 Apple Cup on November 25th.  

“We are thrilled to sponsor WSU Athletics, ensuring that fans can continue to rally behind their beloved Cougs,” said Sprague. 

For over a decade, we’ve partnered with WSU on several initiatives to advance the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) — a key part of our goal to be carbon net zero by 2040.  

In 2015, we partnered with the WSU-led Northwest Advanced Renewables Alliance (NARA) to produce and use SAF from forest residuals (tree limbs and branches that remain after a forest harvest), which led to Alaska making history by becoming the first airline to fly a commercial flight powered by this type of SAF. Last year, WSU was named as the academic partner in Alaska’s innovative corporate SAF program, aimed at fostering education and raising awareness about opportunities to enhance the sustainability of business travel. 

On Oct. 3, the “Go Dawgs” special UW-themed aircraft will fly its first flight between Seattle (SEA) to Portland (PDX). 

In 2016, Alaska proudly became the official airline of the University of Washington. Since then, we’ve expanded our support across various aspects of the university, including UW Athletics, the Foster School of Business and various campus initiatives, reinforcing our commitment to advancing education within the communities we serve. 

As always, it’s an absolute thrill to witness the Huskies in action, facing off against rival teams, whether on the iconic Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium or within the electric atmosphere of the Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion. 

A new era of aircraft 

While the two universities have graced the outside of Q400s operated for Alaska by its sister carrier, Horizon Air, the airline has transitioned to an all-jet fleet of modern Embraer E175 aircraft. Horizon has 41 jets and by the close of 2026 is scheduled to have 50 of them.  

The E175 jets include a range of benefits: 

  • The jet aircraft has three classes of service, just like our Boeing 737s. 
  • Our elite members can enjoy upgrades to First Class and Premium Class. 
  • All seats are window or aisle – there are no middle seats. 
  • It provides a quieter flight than the Q400 turboprop. 
  • There’s inflight entertainment and Wi-Fi connectivity on board. 
  • There are larger overhead bins for stowing carry-ons. 
  • It flies faster than the Q400. 

FOR MEDIA

Looking for stills or b-roll of our “Go Cougs” aircraft inaugural flight? Look no further! https://bit.ly/3ENfGAr

“Go Cougs” Media Kit

Photos of our “Go Dawgs” aircraft can be found here: https://bit.ly/3ZCY9Vr

“Go Dawgs” Media Kit

Download b-roll video

Wish come true: Watch this little guy’s reaction when he meets our captain

In the midst of what has been a truly busy operation, several employees from Portland took the time to make a little boy’s Make-A-Wish flight remarkable—so remarkable, in fact, that he fell head over heels when he met our captain!

Watch Elijah make announcements with Customer Service Agent Julie and meet our Captain Jeff.

Elijah is a 7-year-old leukemia warrior from Vancouver, Washington who loves soccer, building Legos and all things superheroes.  Dolphins are his favorite animal, and, through the magic of Make-A-Wish Oregon, Elijah was not only going to see dolphins, he was going to get to meet them up close on his trip to San Diego.

When Make-A-Wish reached out to Alaska to see if we could help, you know the answer, right?

Our caring Portland employees rolled out the red carpet for Elijah and his family, including allowing him to help our customer service employees make announcements and board guests. He and his sister also got to sit in the flight deck and see all the bells and whistles — and even push a few buttons — thanks to Captain Jeff and First Officer Renee.

@alaskaair

We were honored to fly 7-year-old leukemia warrior, Elijah, as he embarked on his wish to California with Make-A-Wish Oregon! Our employees rolled out the red carpet for Elijah and his family, including letting him make the boarding announcements and check out the flight deck (captain’s hat included!). Most of the wishes granted this year involve travel, and we are committed to making more dreams come true. We will match up to one million miles donated to Make-A-Wish Oregon now through the fall. Donate today at oregon.wish.org/Miles #AlaskaCarelines #Care #MakeAWish #Wish

♬ original sound – Alaska Airlines

Alaska is making a difference one wish at a time

As an official airline partner of Make-A-Wish, Alaska Airlines has flown hundreds of wish kids, making their dreams come true and adding some much-needed levity and joy to their families, just when they need it. According to Make-A-Wish, 78% of all the wishes granted this year involved travel. 💙 Starting now, Alaska Airlines will match up to one million miles donated to Make-A-Wish Oregon through this fall.

Learn more about donating miles to Make A Wish Oregon

Alaska Airlines delivers an industry-leading operation during a busy summer season 

Now that fall is right around the corner, we’re proud to say Alaska Airlines ran the best operation this summer — and it’s all thanks to our 23,000 employees. We operated more than 100,000 flights and safely connected 12.6 million guests (600,000 more than last year) to places and people they love. 

Between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day, Alaska had the highest completion rate (meaning the lowest rate of cancelled flights) of any other airline – completing 99.7% of scheduled flights and led the industry in on-time performance.  

We take pride in delivering a reliable operation for our guests who depend on us. This summer, we were firing on all cylinders, and we plan to continue this operational excellence as guests entrust us with their holiday travel. We can’t wait to welcome you onboard again. 

We have proven that we can do anything when we work together as a team. We have shown that every flight matters and every guest matters. We earn the trust and loyalty of our guests by delivering on our promises every day and the contributions of every team member makes all the difference,” said Constance von Muehlen, Alaska Airlines Chief Operating Officer. 

Plan for busy end of summer travel season with tips for Labor Day weekend 

With Labor Day weekend only days away, summer is coming to an end, but travel is in full swing— and we’ve got all the pointers to get you wherever you want to spend your long weekend with ease. 

From Thursday to Monday, we expect nearly 700,000 guests throughout our network, an increase of nearly 8% from last year.  

Passenger levels for the Labor Day period are expected to be at pre-pandemic levels. Volume at Seattle Tacoma International Airport, our largest hub, will be about 18 percent higher than it was last year, according to the Port of Seattle. AAA also reports domestic bookings are up 4% this year. 

Safe to say, it’s going to be a busy weekend — we expect full aircraft, busy airports and lots of guests — but we’ve got you covered. 

As we head into a big travel weekend, credit to our people for running a safe and reliable operation while showing care for each other and our guests throughout the summer. Labor Day is an opportunity to celebrate the contributions and achievements of our team – 85% of employees at Alaska Airlines are represented by a union, and we know our labor partners are integral to our success as a company. We are proud to lead the industry this summer with the best on-time performance and fewest flight cancellations. When we work together as one team, these are the results that we deliver.”

– Constance von Muehlen, Alaska Airlines Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President
What were this summer’s hottest destinations?  

Travelers this summer loved cities and sunshine. Millions of our guests made these destinations the most popular for 2023 summer adventures: 

Anchorage 

We offer the most flights to Anchorage year-round, including the most nonstop flights than any other major airline. This is the first Labor Day you’ll be able to fly nonstop to Anchorage from Paine Field. Alaska’s largest city is packed with adventure—from stunning views of glaciers, wildlife, whale watching and more, it’s surely one to add to your bucket list.  

Check out ANC 
San Diego 

We’re proud to offer our guests the most nonstop destinations from San Diego with four more routes added this year, including Eugene, Washington, DC (IAD-Dulles), Tampa and Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo in Mexico. San Diego has become a favorite among our guests for its beaches, comfortable climate and mix of culture and cuisine.  

Flights to SAN 
New York City 

Alaska serves both Newark (EWR) & JFK airport and offers nonstop service from New York to five West Coast cities. Starting on Dec. 14, guests will be able to fly to JFK from Palm Springs. When summer arrives on the East Coast, the warm summer days and endless things to do in the big city draw our guests to the Empire State. 

Fly to Newark
Head to JFK
Honolulu 

For 16 years, we’ve had the privilege of flying our guests to Hawai‘i, one of the most beautiful and amazing places on the planet. We serve four Hawaiian Islands from eight West Coast cities, including our newest route from Paine Field to Honolulu and recently increased to five daily flights between Seattle and Honolulu. 

Flights to Honolulu 
Orlando 

Alaska offers service from four West Coast cities to Orlando, and this summer many families took advantage of our nonstop flights to the theme park capital of the world. We offer three peak-day flights between Seattle and Orlando International Airport. For our guests on the West Coast, our flights to this popular summer destination are scheduled to allow you to maximize your time at the theme parks.  

Check out Orlando 

Traveling this Labor Day weekend? Here are some tips for a smooth traveling experience:

Check in:

Use the Alaska Airlines mobile app to check in beginning 24 hours before your flight.

Guests should check-in and get a boarding pass on the Alaska app or online at alaskaair.com before heading to the airport. You can download a mobile boarding pass to your phone, text it to yourself, or even print one before arriving to the airport.

Know when to arrive:

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.

Heads up: Some of our hub airports—including Seattle—are undergoing construction that may increase congestion. Parking might also be limited.

Pay for bags ahead of time:

Avoid lines at the airport and pay for up to three checked bags in the Alaska mobile app or on alaskaair.com. You may qualify for complimentary bags if you’re an Alaska Airlines credit card holder, U.S. military personnel or have Elite or oneworld Alliance® status. Learn more about our baggage policies.

With new Bag Tag Stations coming to every airport we serve, you’ll be able to quickly pay for and tag your bags and go. Pro tip: If you’re flying with just a carry on, skip the lobby and head straight to security with your mobile boarding pass.

Get in touch with us:

If you’re an Alaska Mileage Plan member, set up communication preferences in your account profile. Our Reservations team can easily update you if your flight schedule changes due to something like weather. You can receive notifications through the app, email and text (to request more info, simply text HELP to 252752).

Pre-order meals before your flight:

Reserve your favorite meal on the app or online up to 20 hours before your departure. We’ve filled our flight menu with a range of fresh, bright flavors inspired by the West Coast food scene and serve freshly prepared meals and snacks for breakfast, lunch and dinner—always including a vegetarian option.

Alaska Airlines Inflight Menu
Enroll in a Trusted Traveler program:

Programs like TSA’s Global Entry and Pre-Check provide expedited screening that reduces your time in the security line and comes with a few other perks including allowing children between 13-17 to enter with an enrolled parent. CLEAR members also rarely worry about being late because they’re always at the front of the security line. Mileage Plan members can now enroll for a CLEAR Plus membership at a reduced rate and receive bonus miles. And our hometown airport, SEA, offers a program called Spot Saver to save a spot in the security line.

Get to your gate faster with CLEAR Plus and enjoy exclusive discounts as a Mileage Plan™ member.

Request special assistance:

If you need special assistance while traveling, you can request it online or call our dedicated accessible services line at 1-800-503-0101 (dial 711 for relay services). Request wheelchair assistance, add a trained service animal to your trip and more.

Download our free mobile app called Fly for All on the App Store and Google Play, designed for those with cognitive and developmental disabilities, first-time flyers, and unaccompanied minors.

Recharge in our Lounges:

Experience unparalleled airport Lounge service in a quiet space to relax and recharge, or get a little work done between flights in Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York – JFK, Portland, or Anchorage to relax before your flight. Lounge members can access the lounge with their digital membership card, available in our mobile app.

Alaska Airlines Lounges
Our well-loved Seattle D Concourse Lounge has reopened after a massive makeover (ICYMI: check it out!).

Stream & text in flight:

Snuggle into your seat and choose from over 800 free movies and TV episodes in our entertainment library. Most aircraft feature our streaming entertainment system, letting you watch free movies and TV shows on your own device. Simply connect to our onboard Wi-Fi network during your flight, and visit AlaskaWiFi.com to see browse our extensive library.

On most flights, you can also purchase our streaming-fast satellite Wi-Fi for just $8. And enjoy free texting while you fly, by simply connecting to our Wi-Fi.

Earn miles every time you fly:

Make sure your Alaska number is listed with your flight so you can earn miles for every flight you take with Alaska Airlines or any of our partner airlines. Not a member? Join today.

Alaska Airlines appoints new regional vice president for Hawai‘i 

Alaska Airlines has promoted Daniel Chun to regional vice president – Hawai‘i, in a move that underscores the airline’s enduring commitment to the Aloha State. In this newly created role, Chun serves as the senior executive for Alaska Airlines in Hawai‘i, leading the long-term strategy for the company’s growth in the Islands and continuing to deepen Alaska’s longstanding support and engagement within the local community. Alaska started service to the Hawaiian Islands in 2007 and operates the most flights between Hawai‘i and the West Coast than any carrier. 

Alaska Airlines is proud and humbled to have served Hawai‘i for over fifteen years, and Daniel’s leadership has helped us to do so in a way that reflects our values, including our emphasis on care and stewardship,” said Ben Minicucci, Alaska Airlines CEO. “As we continue to support the relief and recovery efforts on Maui, we are committed to serving the community in Hawai‘i now more than ever and are thrilled to recognize Daniel’s leadership with this new role. Anyone who knows Daniel appreciates his kindness and integrity, and we are grateful to have him as a member of our leadership team.” 

Chun joined Alaska Airlines in 2011 and most recently served as the Hawai‘i director of sales, community and public relations, leading the airline’s public affairs and community outreach efforts throughout the state of Hawai‘i. Through his 12 years of leadership at the company, Alaska has provided nearly $5 million in cash and in-kind support to over 200 local community organizations in Hawai‘i, with a focus on youth, education, and the environment. In addition, Chun serves on the board of the Alaska Airlines Foundation, which has awarded funding support to Hawai‘i nonprofits since 2015. 

“For over a decade, I have had the great privilege of serving our community and supporting Alaska’s culture of care in Hawai‘i,” said Chun. “Alaska has always had a deep sense of stewardship and kuleana for all those who depend on us, and I am humbled by the opportunity to continue to grow our presence and impactful work here in the Islands.” 

Chun has over 20 years of experience in Hawai‘i’s tourism industry and is a former board member of the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority. Born and raised on the island of O‘ahu, Chun is a graduate of the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, with a Bachelor of Science degree in travel industry management. He is active in the Hawai‘i community and currently serves on the boards of the Public Schools of Hawai‘i F

Easy-breezy global travel: Verify your passport from home with Alaska Airlines’ Mobile Verify program

We’ve discontinued our partnership with Airside. Now, eligible guests can complete document verification digitally – saving time and skipping lines at the airport. Download the Alaska app to verify your documents in two minutes or less. Learn more at alaskaair.com/verify. 

With just a couple quick photos, you can securely verify your passport before arriving at the airport. Which means more time to pick up that last minute sunscreen or get your vacation started early with a pre-flight beverage and less time waiting in line at the airport to verify your documents.

Every traveler leaving or entering the United States is required to have their passport verified by their airline. Beginning today, guests traveling internationally on Alaska flights and using U.S. or Canadian passports have the option to use our new Mobile Verify program. This means no longer needing to wait in line in the lobby or at the gate to have a customer service agent check your documents — you can take care of this step safely and securely from the comfort of your home ahead of time.

We’re transforming the airport experience and reimagining how guests get from the lobby to the boarding door — and the use of biometric identities is at the center of this vision. Eventually, guests will be able to flow through every airport touchpoint without having to take out identification documents, simply by controlling their digital identity on their smart phone.

The Mobile Verify platform, powered by Airside, an Onfido company, is just the latest tool we’re implementing to build this vision where everyone has access to self-service tools that lets them fly through the lobby and get to their flight faster.

We’re reimagining the entire guest experience at our airports with the goal of getting you through the lobby in 5 minutes or less,” said Charu Jain, senior vice president of innovation and merchandising. “We’re investing in technology that takes processes traditionally only available at an airport and makes them possible from your smartphone. This new Mobile Verify technology creates a seamless airport experience for guests traveling internationally — eliminating the uncertainty that comes with having to wait in airport lines.”

The safety and security of our guests and their information is our highest priority. We selected a solution that allows guests to completely control the access to their information — everything lives on your smart phone, and you decide when and where it’s shared. This secure process ensures a high level of privacy while also saving you time. 

“Alaska has highly loyal guests thanks to the quality of their service and their commitment to consumer privacy,” said Adam Tsao, General Manager for Airside at Onfido. “We’re proud Airside is helping deliver on this commitment and empower all those who travel on Alaska Airlines with fast, private, and easy airport experiences by putting digital identities in the hands of their flyers.”

How does Mobile Verify work?

One time set-up

First, you will need to create your digital identity – you only have to do this once during the lifespan of your passport.

Look for this logo in your phone’s app store.

1. Download the Airside Digital Identity mobile app on an iOS or Android device.

2. Take a selfie of your face.

3. Scan your passport photo page.

4. Hold your phone against the inside of the passport’s back cover to read the embedded chip.

The app verifies your information by scanning the photo page of the passport and reading the embedded NFC chip. Then, the digital ID is securely stored on your mobile device until you choose where and when to share it.

Before each trip

Because you have already created your digital identity, there are just a couple steps before a trip. The Alaska app will prompt you to open your Airside app to:

1. Select your departure date and location

2. Enter your confirmation code.

This gives a one-time consent to use your digital identity, which alerts Alaska that you have had your documents verified for international travel and do not need to see an agent. You’ll repeat this simple process for each international trip.

Of course, our award-winning customer service agents will always be around to help if you’d rather go the traditional route.

We can’t wait to have you try Mobile Verify on your next international flight!

Book your next international getaway today

Support local businesses as Maui recovers  

Updated Sept. 29. 2023

Britney Alejo-Fishell, a Native Hawaiian business owner of a popular lei vendor on Maui has an urgent message for people considering visiting Hawai‘i: We welcome you. We aloha you.  

While West Maui works to recover and rebuild for years to come, the rest of Maui remains open and is ready to welcome mindful travelers back to the island to support business owners like Britney and others listed below. 

If you’ve traveled with us to Maui before, you know local businesses are the heartbeat of the community and part of what makes Maui so special. If you’re interested in supporting the Maui community through recovery—including travel—below are some local Maui businesses to add to your list, where you can go on the island and other ways you can help support Maui. 

Britney Alejo-Fishell

Owner and creator of Haku Maui in Makawao
(Upcountry Maui)

“As we navigate through the recent events that have taken place on Maui and ʻauamo kuleana (assume a sense of responsibility) as a community, Maui continues to need your support and kākoʻo (assistance) in keeping our economy open. We need the likes of both kamaʻāina (locals) and malihini (visitors) to continue to support our local businesses and local economy so that we, as a kaiāulu (community), can continue to give as well. Please continue to support our economy through responsible travel, shopping local, and sharing this message to assist us in amplifying our voices.” 

Cindy Liu

Owner of L&L Hawaiian Barbecue in Honokōwai
(West Maui)

“Many of us are down to nothing – we’ve lost a lot, but we can recover slowly with the help of responsible tourists and locals returning to Maui. We want our restaurant to thrive again so that we can provide for our community and our family.” 

Riley Coon

Owner, Trilogy Excursions from Lahaina  
(West Maui)

“Aloha, I’m Captain Riley Coon, a Native Hawaiian and a third-generation owner of Trilogy Excursions. We are Maui’s premier ocean activity company established by my grandparents in 1973. We offer Maui’s best sailing and snorkeling experiences on the water, and it’s our passion to create lifelong memories that span generations. I never could have imagined, as we celebrated our 50th anniversary this summer, that soon after we would find ourselves aiding our community by using our boats for Lahaina fire rescues and relief efforts. As we continue to support our local community, we also need to keep our business operational so our employees can have a life on Maui. By choosing to book a trip to Maui and sail with us, you not only will have a first-class experience, but you will be supporting our island towards recovery.” 

Rachael Ray Au Hoon

Owner & artist at U‘i Gallery in Kahului
(Central Maui)

“Aloha! My name is Rachael Ray and I am the owner and oil painter of U‘i Gallery in Kahului, Maui. We’ve been a favorite place to shop for local handmade gifts, art, jewelry, woodwork, apparel, home goods, and fresh flower lei since 2014. U‘i means handsome, pretty, beautiful in the Hawaiian language and truly that is what our gallery feels like the moment you walk into our oasis of aloha. Maui is a very resilient island and the people in our community work together to support each other in times of great need. When you visit Maui, you support us as we all heal and grow together through the change as an ‘ohana (family) in the spirit of aloha. E kipa mai iā Maui (come visit Maui)!” 

Kalani Pe‘a

3-time GRAMMY Award-winning Native Hawaiian singer,
songwriter, and music producer from Wailuku
(Central Maui)

“E hele mai a e kipa mai (please come and visit Maui). As a kānaka (Native Hawaiian) living on Maui, we are now here protecting the cultural landscape and our po‘e (people) of Lahaina, Kā‘anapali and Nāpili. But, Maui is open in Kīhei, Wailea, Hāna, Wailuku, and Kahului. Small business owners and my loved ones in hospitality depend on tourism, as it is a huge part of Maui’s economic growth. You visiting Maui helps put food on our tables and clothes on our children’s backs. Please come. ‘Āmama, ua noa (it’s a blessing to have you). Please come with humility, love, and aloha during these trying times. Maui is not closed – just the west side is. We are open.”  

Where can you travel to Maui right now? 

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 October 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. 

A message from the County of Maui:

Book travel to Maui

Limited time offer: Hotels and Car Rentals bonus

Support local businesses on Maui while earning Mileage Plan™ bonus miles for hotel and car bookings. 

Earn 2,000 bonus miles with every Maui hotel booking, on top of our fantastic rates and up to 10,000 miles per night at Alaska Hotels. Offer ends December 31, 2023. Restrictions apply.

Book a hotel

When you book with Avis and Budget through Alaska Car Rentals, receive 1,000 bonus miles for all Hawaii rentals of 3+ days. That’s in addition to member deals of up to 35% off and 1,250 miles. Rental must be completed by December 31, 2023. Restrictions apply.

Book a car

Maui still needs your help.  

We are so grateful for the efforts of all our nonprofit partners who’ve been working on the ground to provide much-needed support to local communities. Here are three remarkable organizations we’re supporting, and encourage you to consider contributing to: 

Kanu Hawai‘i and Maui Rapid Response are leading an effort to provide travel support for Maui residents who have been impacted by the wildfires. Together with our employees and guests, Alaska has donated nearly 27 million miles towards this program.

The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement’s (CNHA) Kāko‘o Maui fund will directly support community-driven relief efforts on Maui. CNHA’s mission is to enhance the cultural, economic, political and community development of Native Hawaiians. The Alaska Airlines Foundation, together with Alaska employees and our company’s employee Matching Gift program, have pledged more than $150,000 to this campaign over the past few days. 

Contribute to Kāko‘o Maui 

Airlink is coordinating relief supplies and travel for first responders to support immediate recovery efforts on Maui. Alaska has also donated 1.5 million miles to enable their work. 

Support Airlink 

Volunteer on Maui

If you’d like to help volunteer while on Maui, consider reaching out to one or more of the following: Maui Food Bank, Maui Rapid Response, Common Ground Collective, Maui Humane Society, or any of the non-profits and organizations, including those endorsed by the County of Maui, on the Maui Nui Strong website.

Alaska Airlines sends rescue flights & wildfire relief to help people on Maui  

Updated Sept. 29, 2023

Alaska Airlines is actively monitoring the devastating impacts of the Maui wildfires while continuing to maintain daily departures from the island.

Following Hawai‘i Governor Josh Green’s recent guidance, both residents and visitors are encouraged to visit Maui to support its businesses, restaurants, stores, attractions, and lodging facilities.

Starting Oct. 8, travel restrictions to West Maui communities north of Lahaina will be lifted. However, Lahaina itself will remain fully closed to the public until further notice out of respect to the town’s residents. County, state, and federal emergency responders continue with efforts to identify victims and the missing and conduct clean-up efforts of debris and hazardous materials resulting from the wildfires.

In the disaster’s early hours, we launched rescue flights from our Seattle Cargo facility on Wednesday, Aug. 9. These flights carried essential relief items such as water, non-perishable food, pillows, blankets, towels, wipes, baby formula, and diapers. We maintained our scheduled flights to transport guests off the island. Although we don’t typically operate interisland flights in Hawai‘i, we initiated rescue flights between Maui and Honolulu to evacuate guests from Maui and deliver vital supplies.

Since Aug. 9, Alaska Air Cargo has transported over 200,000 pounds of relief supplies for Lahaina, Maui wildfire victims.

Folasi was one of the lead ramp air freight agents who helped pack the rescue flight with relief supplies. In the two years he’s worked for Alaska, he says this is what our company is all about. 

“It felt good to be part of the team who are making sure that the supplies loaded safely so it can make it to Maui. I have family there, so seeing the plane take off made me feel good that Alaska Airlines acted quickly to help those in need and to know that the airline I work for responded so fast especially having family in Maui made me feel good,” he said.  

We’re also partnering with Airlink, which you can support here through cash donations.

Our hearts are with those on Maui, and our employees and their families, during this devastating time,” said Daniel Chun, Alaska’s Director of Sales, Community & Public Relations in Hawaii. “We hope we can help bring much-needed care and relief to those who’ve experienced catastrophic loss throughout the community.” 

Folasi is one of many remarkable employees stepping up to support the Maui community and our guests visiting the island. Pilots and flight attendants are volunteering to fly rescue flights, airport employees are showing up to lend a hand wherever needed, we’ve offered food and supplies to stranded guests at the airport, employees from Seattle have flown in to support the team on the ground on Maui, and our contact center employees have been helping guests who need assistance. 

It’s in times of crisis that our team’s values of own safety, do the right thing and be kindhearted shine through. We’re proud of the way all our employees are rallying together to help and care for the Maui community and our guests.  

Alaska employees at Maui (OGG) Kahului Airport today, along with cargo relief packages.

How you can help support Maui 

  • Support nonprofit partners, such as Airlink, who are well-versed in the proper packaging, regulations and restrictions needed to move supplies via cargo, and for safety reasons—it is important that we only accept items we know we can fly. Alaska has also donated 1.5 million miles to Airlink to transport first responders to Maui.   
  • Contribute to Kāko‘o Maui through the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, which works to enhance the cultural, economic, political and community development of Native Hawaiians. All proceeds will go directly to Maui organizations in support of relief efforts. The Alaska Airlines Foundation, together with Alaska employees and our company’s employee Matching Gift program, have pledged more than $150,000 to this campaign. 

We are proud of the caring community throughout our network and want to continue encouraging broad support for Maui relief. 

The best way people can help is by donating miles or supporting one of our nonprofit partners to ensure relief is making it to where it’s needed most. Non-profit partners, such as Airlink, are well-versed in the proper packaging, regulations and restrictions needed to move supplies via cargo, and we only want to accept supplies we know we can fly. 

It’s moving to see the how many people want to support, but our ask is that donations go to the non-profit organizations coordinating relief efforts instead of individual in-kind donations. 

Thank you for your support

Kanu Hawai‘i and Maui Rapid Response are leading an effort to provide travel support for Maui residents who have been impacted by the wildfires. Together with our employees and guests, Alaska has donated nearly 27 million miles towards this program.

“My heart is saddened by the wildfires on Maui, as we have lost over a century of historical and cultural landmarks in Lāhainā, local businesses and residences, but most of all, we have lost people from our lāhui, our community.  The people of Maui are strong and resilient and will rebuild, and although we may not be able to replace what was lost, we must do our part to provide relief in any form possible so that our Kānaka, our people, can once again stand tall. 
Eō e Maui Nui a Kama! #mauistrong” 

-Keoni, Alaska SFO Flight Attendant and member of our Pacific Islander Alliance employee group 

Traveling to/from Maui 

We are offering a flexible travel policy if you would like to change or cancel your flight to Maui.  

In accordance with emergency orders from the state of Hawai‘i, we’re discouraging guests vacation travel to West Maui (Lāhainā, Kā‘anapali, Kapalua).The flexible travel policy allows guests with planned travel to Maui to change their flight to another Hawaiian island.

Other areas of Maui (including Kahului, Wailuku, Kīhei, Wailea, Mākena and Hāna) remain open — as well as the other Hawaiian Islands, like Kaua‘i, O‘ahu and Hawai‘i Island — and are ready to welcome visitors who are traveling to the Islands with care and respect.

To help the Maui community, for this emergency, we are allowing guests to cancel their reservations and receive a refund to their original form of payment upon request. As always, you can choose to keep the refund in your Account wallet or receive a credit certificate for future travel, but we are doing everything we can to encourage our guests to rethink their trips to the island right now. 

If you are a member of the media interested in photos or b-roll of our relief efforts, you can find it here.

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This post will continue to be updated as more information becomes available. 

Alaska Airlines teams up with Mountain Collective for new ski pass partnership for our Mileage Plan members 

We’re squarely in the heat of summer, but ski season is just a few months away. With visions of hitting the slopes, Alaska Airlines is rewarding our Mileage Plan members with a new partnership with The Mountain Collective – a seasonal ski pass program that provides access to 24 ski resorts around the world. 

Our Mileage Plan members who purchase a season pass with The Mountain Collective will receive 5,000 bonus miles and a third day free at a resort of their choice. Mileage Plan elites will also earn an additional 5,000 bonus miles (that’s 10,000 bonus miles total!) when they sign up with The Mountain Collective. The limited-time offer* is available between Aug. 3-Sept. 25, 2023.

You can buy your pass here. 

Alaska and our airline partners can take you (and your skis) to any of the resorts that are part of The Mountain Collective.

We can fly you to destinations across the Western U.S. and Canada including Alta Ski Area, Big Sky Resort, Jackson Hole, Revelstoke, Snowbird, Sun Valley and Taos Ski Valley.

Our global partners can fly you to the international resorts in France and Japan, and to Australia, New Zealand and Chile for year-round skiing in the Southern Hemisphere.  

So many of our Mileage Plan members are avid skiers and snowboarders. Our new partnership with The Mountain Collective is an excellent way to experience amazing resorts this winter and save money,” said Brett Catlin, vice president of loyalty, alliances and sales at Alaska Airlines. “We also love that we can get you to all of these resorts on Alaska flights or with one of our oneworld member airlines and additional global partners.” 

By the way, ski and snowboard equipment are considered normal checked bags when flying on Alaska – only standard baggage fees and waivers apply with no additional fees tacked on. And if you’re a Mileage Plan elite flyer or you have the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card, you get checked bags for free – so your gear flies free. 

The Mountain Collective pass provides two days of skiing at each of the participating resorts across five continents with the option to purchase additional days at a discounted rate with no blackout dates. Through Sept. 25, the pass costs $630 for adults (13 and up), $500 for teenagers (ages 13-18) and $200 for children under 12. The more you ski at the different resorts, the lower your overall daily cost. 

Stay tuned for on-mountain events planned throughout ski season exclusively for Mileage Plan members.  

*Limited time offer terms and conditions: All Mileage Plan members who purchase a new Mountain Collective pass for the 2023-2024 season between Aug. 3, 2023, and Sept. 25, 2023 will receive 5,000 bonus miles along with a third bonus day at a location of their choice, to be selected at purchase. Members must make a qualifying purchase via the URL provided in this email. Offer not valid for customers with an existing Mountain Collective pass for the 2023-2024 season. Bonus miles will post to the member’s Mileage Plan account by Oct. 15, 2023, provided the Mountain Collective pass has not been refunded. Mileage Plan elites (MVP, MVP Gold, MVP Gold 75K, or MVP Gold 100K status) will receive an additional 5,000 bonus miles (10,000 bonus miles total). To earn these additional 5,000 bonus miles, members must hold elite status as of Oct. 1, 2023. Bonus miles do not count toward elite status qualification. All Mileage Plan terms and conditions apply. All Mountain Collective terms and conditions apply.  

What do breaking the sound barrier, Neil Armstrong and Alaska Airlines have in common?

They are all related to the NASA X aircraft program!

In partnership with NASA, Boeing and other airlines, it was announced earlier this week that Alaska will participate in the Sustainable Flight Demonstrator (SFD) program to help develop the NASA X-66A aircraft. The X-66A is designed to test the Transonic Truss-Braced Wing airframe configuration, which is estimated to reduce fuel consumption and emissions up to 30 percent relative to today’s most efficient aircraft using an airframe with long, slender wings supported by diagonal struts connected to the lower fuselage. This is the first time that an X-plane is focused on helping to achieve the goal of net-zero aviation greenhouse gas emissions.

“At Alaska, we have set an ambitious goal for our carbon emissions to be net zero by 2040, but we know we can’t get there alone,” said Diana Birkett Rakow, senior vice president of public affairs and sustainability. “Decarbonizing aviation is one of the most daunting challenges of our time and will require solutions that don’t yet exist. It’s going to take both the public and private sectors coming together to enable step change innovation. Alaska is committed to playing an active role in solving this challenge which is why we have partnered with pioneers like NASA and Boeing to further aviation sustainability.”

As a partner to NASA and Boeing, Alaska will offer feedback on how the aircraft performs, including operational efficiencies, maintenance, handling characteristics and airport compatibility. The X-planes are a series of experimental U.S. aircraft and rockets that are used to test and evaluate new technologies. The “X” designator within the US system of aircraft designations, denotes the experimental research mission. According to NASA, their history with the X-plane designation dates to the 1940s, when its predecessor agency, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) jointly created an experimental aircraft program with the Air Force and the U.S. Navy.

“It is inspiring to think of the all the important innovations that have resulted from NASA X-planes – breaking the sound barrier, flying to the edge of space, varying wing sweep in flight, digitizing flight control systems – and to know we will be a part of developing the next generation of commercial aircraft,” said Pasha Saleh, corporate development director and Alaska’s representative to the SFD program, “As we have done for the last 90+ years, Alaska is well positioned to be a pragmatic innovator, designing the future of aviation for the good of the planet.”

Stay tuned for more as the program takes flight!

Alaska Airlines leads the pack with fewest flight cancellations and top-ranked loyalty program

Today, we announced our financial results from the last three months, and it includes good news for guests, employees, the communities we serve and our shareholders. Dive into all the financial details here, but these are the main takeaways:

We are running a strong, reliable operation.

Our business is complex, but at the end of the day, our 23,000 employees are working together to get you safely from point A to point B.

This quarter, our team was running on all cylinders and carried that momentum into the July 4th holiday week (where we welcomed nearly 1 million guests). On June 30th, we flew the most guests in a single day ever in our history while leading the industry in completion rate (lowest rate of cancellations of any airline) with a 99.59% grade this quarter. We also worked hard to get you to your destination on time – with over 82% of flights arriving within 15 minutes of the scheduled time.

“People are hungry to travel, and our frontline employees are delivering the safe, reliable and caring experience that people expect when they fly with us,” said CEO Ben Minicucci. “I’m so proud of our team for knocking it out of the park and delivering industry-leading operational and financial outcomes. We chose to prioritize reliability, which is imperative to restoring stability, improving predictability for our guests and employees, capturing record revenue, and serving as the foundation for our long-term profitable growth.”

Our investments in new aircraft, training resources and staffing have prepared us to show up well for your important summer travel, and we couldn’t be prouder of our teams.

Our Mileage Plan program ranks above the rest.

Our Mileage Plan program was just recognized as being the best airline rewards program by U.S. News & World Report. It’s no secret to our guests who earn and redeem miles with us that you just get more with our Mileage Plan program compared to other loyalty programs.

Consider using your hard-earned miles on a dream vacation to more than 120 destinations across the United States, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, Bahamas, Guatemala and Mexico or to more than 1,000 global destinations on our partner airline. Right now, you can fly from Seattle to Tahiti on our partner Air Tahiti Nui starting at just 30,000 miles!

We’re investing back into our business.

Even amid rising costs like fuel, our pre-tax margin (the percentage of money we made after all our expenses but before paying taxes) is likely to lead the industry this quarter. All that means is we’re managing our finances in a way that allows us to weather any future downturns and continue investing in a better guest experience. So, how are we spending the money we made?

Investing in our people

Our employees are the heart of everything we do. We invest in competitive wages and comprehensive benefits, expanded training opportunities and incentives when our team performs well. Because of their industry-leading performance over the last three months, employees earned more than $7 million in a quarterly incentive payout (which we call Operational Performance Rewards (OPR) and is split among all employees). We have also accrued roughly $100 million in the first half of the year towards our end of year Performance-Based Payout (PBP), which rewards employees for their progress on financial, operational and safety goals.

Buying new aircraft

Each month we’re taking delivery of newer, more fuel-efficient aircraft. Of the 251 new planes we’ve ordered, we already have 53 in our fleet. This fresher fleet gives guests that new airplane smell we all love and increases our fuel efficiency by 15-25% compared to previous generation aircraft, to help us reach our rigorous sustainability goals by 2040.

Enhancing the airport experience

We want every guest to enjoy their flying experience from the moment they step into an airport to when they board our aircraft, which is why we’re investing more than $2.5 billion to reimagine and modernize our largest hubs. You can see part of this investment up close in the newly renovated D Concourse Lounge in Seattle, which now has 50% more seating.

New destinations and more communities served

We’ve been on a roll announcing dozens of new routes, from international destinations (like the Bahamas and Guatemala) to increased flights to backyard Pacific Northwest gems in Bend, Yakima, Wenatchee and more. We’re thrilled to connect our guests to more of the places they want to go.

Quarterly reports might sound like they’re only relevant for Wall Street, but when we perform well, it benefits everyone who matters to us. See you next quarter!

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