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Alaska Airlines reopens renovated D Concourse Lounge in Seattle as part of an overall $30 million investment in upgrading our Lounges 

We welcome back members and guests to our popular D Concourse Lounge on June 21 with 50% more seating and improved amenities; other major projects on the horizon 

We keep showing our Lounges lots of love because we know our members and guests love them so much.  

And we’ve been busy. Alaska Airlines has doubled the footprint of our Lounges and invested $30 million in improvements in the past five years. We remain focused on fresh upgrades and new amenities to make the spaces bigger and better than ever. 

At our hometown airport in Seattle, our well-loved and historically most popular D Concourse Lounge is set to reopen after a massive makeover lasting more than five months – the site’s first full renovation in nearly 20 years. It’s now on par with our terrific N Concourse and C Concourse Lounges. It’s sure to unleash a few ooohs and ahhhs when service resumes on Wednesday, June 21, such as: 

The newly revamped space has 50% more seating including our popular loungers on the mezzanine level for sitting back, relaxing and taking in terrific views. 

A new barista station is conveniently located on the first level so members and guests can grab a quick, hand-crafted espresso beverage or brewed coffee to go (a big request by travelers on their way to their gate), or they can simply hang out for a bit. 

There’s a better layout that’s easier to move through with a proper bar space to order complimentary craft brews, and West Coast wines and spirits. We’re also expanding our hot food options that are served throughout the day. 

We take tremendous pride in making sure each of our Lounges is a relaxed, calm escape for our members and guests – an oasis of good food and drink presented with the care we’re known for along with amazing views.”

– Sangita Woerner, senior vice president of marketing and guest experience at Alaska Airlines.

“The revamped D Concourse Lounge in Seattle will be a huge hit with all those travelers who visit. We added thoughtful touches – from being able to quickly grab a delicious hand-crafted espresso beverage to more comfy chairs to relax in,” said Woerner.  

Our redesigned D Concourse Lounge features artwork by the influential Coast Salish artist Louie Gong (Nooksack). His unique style merges traditional Native art with influences from his mixed heritage and urban environment to create work that resonates widely across communities and cultures. We’re honored to showcase one of his paintings, “Internal Affairs.”  

Coast Salish artist Louie Gong (Nooksack)

Gong says this artwork carries a poignant message for travelers who might be contemplating challenges that are either ahead of them or behind them in their travels. This piece is a scuffle between three hummingbirds, symbolizing the human tendency to simplify interpersonal challenges by assigning blunt archetypes like the hero, victim and bully.  

Gong hopes the image reminds people that the pathway to peace usually resists this natural tendency: “It made me happy to know that my art might be the first impression made on travelers in Seattle and sometimes the last visual impression they take with them as they leave the Lounge,” he said. 

In addition to making substantial improvements at the D Concourse Lounge, we also expanded our C Concourse Lounge in Seattle by 3,000 square feet and added 60 more seats. In Portland, we opened a new patio space at Concourse C Lounge along with an ‘express lounge’ at the newly renovated Concourse B. That’s a 60% increase in Lounge seating at both airports. 

There’s still more for us to do in the years ahead. In San Francisco, we’re finalizing plans for a new lounge at Harvey Milk Terminal 1 as we move our operations to that part of the airport in 2024. The all-new Flagship Lounge for Portland – in the spirit of our award-winning Flagship Lounge at the N Concourse in Seattle – is currently scheduled to open in the 2025-26 timeframe with more than 10,000 square feet of space.  

The Alaska Lounge Membership Program offers two options for guests to choose from: a standard Alaska Lounge membership includes access to all our Lounge locations, and an Alaska Lounge+ membership includes access to all our Lounges plus more than 90 partner lounges around the world. Alaska operates nine Lounges at six airports: Anchorage; Los Angeles; New York JFK; Portland (two locations); San Francisco; and Seattle (three locations).  

Alaska Lounge Membership Program

We offer a generous access policy. Lounge members are welcome to bring their immediate family members or up to two guests into the Lounge at no additional charge. Alaska MVP Gold, Gold 75K and Gold 100K members can enjoy Lounge access when they travel on a oneworld member airline to a destination outside of the U.S., Canada or Mexico. 

We also offer access to our Lounges for First Class guests that other airlines do not. Those guests traveling on a paid or award First Class ticket on long-haul and coast-to-coast flights have same-day access to our Lounges.  

Media Kit

Alaska Airlines employees have special bond with Opal Lee, the “Grandmother of Juneteenth”

Family members working together at Alaska is more common than you think. But what’s rare is being related to someone who was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize and helped make Juneteenth a federal holiday.

Teria B., a customer service agent in Austin, Texas and Erica B., a flight attendant based in Portland, Oregon, are cousins and part of a large family—consisting of about 500-600 people—including Dr. Opal Lee, a retired teacher, counselor and activist, and is often regarded as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth” for her help in making it a federal holiday.

Opal is also Teria and Erica’s oldest cousin at 96 years old and still attends family reunions, but she doesn’t expect a red carpet to roll out for her.

“She [Opal] is such a family person – she’s down to earth and that’s what I love about her,” says Teria.

For Opal, it’s never been about recognition or fame. She comes from a family of humanitarians so giving back and making the world a better place for future generations is in her blood.

“She was always very passionate about helping others,” said Erica. “People kind of look at her as like a celebrity, but she is a humanitarian first and foremost before anything else. Her purpose and what drives her is being of service to others, and that’s in our blood.”

What is Juneteenth?
Today marks the 158th year since Juneteenth’s inception, commemorating the day when the last enslaved African Americans learned they were free. Many may not know that while the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect on January 1, 1863, the South did not comply with the law as the Civil War was still going on. Finally, on June 19, two months after the war ended on April 9, 1865, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that slaves were free.

With a large family, it can be hard to get all the cousins in one place. On the photo at left, Erica (L) poses with Opal. Cousin Teria is pictured at far right in uniform, also with Opal.

The journey to make Juneteenth a national holiday

For more than 40 years, Opal worked to push leaders to commemorate Juneteenth as a national holiday. In 1999, Opal had the idea to start an annual Juneteenth walk – 2.5 miles long – to represent the two and half years it took for the news of the Emancipation Proclamation to reach Texas. Teria and Erica remember Opal’s perseverance in the early days of launching these walks.

She didn’t let anything stop her, even when she kept bringing it up to us and we thought, ‘oh here we go again, this Juneteenth thing,’ she would keep going. Nothing was going to stop her from meeting her goal,” said Teria.  

Year after year, the walk’s attendance grew. In 2016 — 17 years after the first event — Opal embarked on her biggest challenge yet. At 89 years young, she started a four-month 1,400-mile walking campaign from Fort Worth, Texas to Washington, D.C. to gain support from Congress to make Juneteenth a national holiday and launched an online petition that garnered 1.6 million signatures.

Dr. Opal Lee, center, walks with supporters on her walk to DC in 2016.

The recognition of Juneteenth as a holiday is seen as an opportunity to recognize and educate people about the history of slavery and the ongoing struggle for racial equality. It also serves as a reminder of the progress made and the work that still needs to be done to address the legacy of racism and ensure a more just and inclusive society.

“What opened my eyes was the time during Covid and the George Floyd incident happened. I think for a lot of Americans, it was the time to sit down and see what’s really going on,” said Teria. “I believe that time was kind of the catalyst for Juneteenth to be really recognized and what it was that Opal has been saying all these years. I think her voice was louder and more heard during that time in our nation.”

In 2021, at the age of 94, Opal’s resilience and determination paid off. On June 17, 2021, she stood alongside President Joe Biden as he signed the Juneteenth Independence Day Act into law, making Juneteenth an official federal holiday.

It was a jubilant day, and while they couldn’t be with Opal in D.C., the family hopped on a conference call and watched the voting results.

“It was a wonderful experience to have the whole family connected, even across different cities and countries, at the same time as she’s in D.C. getting a pen that was signed for Juneteenth to become a federal holiday,” said Teria.

After the signing of the Juneteenth Independence Day Act, Opal Lee, seated, shows President Biden and others her book Juneteenth: A Children’s Story.

A painful memory from the past becomes a full-circle moment

There are many stories Opal has shared with Erica and Teria over the years, but one in particular impacted both of them. On June 19, 1939—yes, Juneteenth—a racist mob vandalized and burned down Opal’s family house in Fort Worth, Texas.

“She was 12 years old at the time, so that had to have been a very traumatic experience for a young child and life-impacting,” said Erica.

Opal could have come away from that terrible day with a different outlook on life, but it stoked a fire within her to educate people and change things for the better.

In an interview with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram in 2020, Opal said, “The fact that it happened on the 19th day of June has spurred me to make people understand that Juneteenth is not just a festival.”

What she has taught us and passed down to the family—to us—is you take lemons, and you make lemonade,” said Teria. “You don’t let it make you bitter. You let it make you better, and that’s what she did.”

What Juneteenth means to our employees

Juneteenth reminds us of the progress made and work that remains to ensure a more just and inclusive society where everyone belongs and has opportunity. Hear a poem written and narrated by Poet Jamaar Smiley, who worked with Alaska Air Group Black Employees, Allies and Advocates, or ABEA, an employee-led business resource group for Black employees.

Cultivating a culture of belonging and connection is a prime focus at Alaska Airlines. Whether it’s safely connecting people across the world or within our company through BRGs, we are committed to creating an equitable workplace for all. Our BRGs provide spaces for employees to connect and champion the diverse workforce and cultures represented here at Alaska and Horizon.

Alaska Airlines adds new coast-to-coast routes this winter linking sunny destinations

New nonstops connecting popular vacation getaways include Portland-Miami, Palm Springs-New York JFK and San Luis Obispo-Las Vegas

Summer is here but it’s never too early to start thinking about escaping to warm, sun-filled days this winter. Alaska Airlines is ready to help make those travel plans with the addition of three new routes just in time for the holidays: Portland-Miami begins service on Nov. 17, and Palm Springs-New York JFK and San Luis Obispo-Las Vegas flights start on Dec. 14. Tickets can be purchased now at alaskaair.com.

We believe our guests are going to love these new nonstops. We continue to see strong demand by travelers who want to go to leisure destinations and are already planning trips for next year,” said Kirsten Amrine, vice president of revenue management and network planning for Alaska Airlines. “We’re especially excited to launch a new coast-to-coast route in Portland, which is a key hub for us. Miami is the largest underserved city from Portland and vice versa, so plenty of flyers are ready to travel between the Rose City and South Florida.”

Portland-Miami

Our flight connecting the West Coast to the East Coast will fly daily, year-round, beginning Nov. 17. When service starts, we’ll fly to 42 nonstop destinations from Portland with 96 peak-daily flights. Miami becomes the fourth Florida city we serve nonstop from Portland joining Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Tampa. This new flight becomes our second nonstop to Miami; we began our Seattle-Miami route in June 2022.

“We are excited to add Miami to our list of nonstop destinations,” said David Zielke, director of air service development at the Port of Portland. “Alaska has been a great partner and we’re looking forward to continuing to seek opportunities to bring more options to travelers.”

Palm Springs-New York JFK

Our guests in Southern California are eager for more nonstops to the East Coast, and we’re ready to take them there. This seasonal flight connects the Big Apple with sunny deserts. Our convenient morning departure from New York allows flyers to arrive in Palm Springs refreshed and ready to get out and soak in the sun. Alaska has more flights to Palm Springs than any other airline.

The introduction of Alaska Airlines’ nonstop service from Palm Springs to New York’s JFK airport is a welcome addition for Palm Springs International Airport,” said Harry Barrett, executive director of aviation at Palm Springs International Airport. “This new service not only strengthens our ties with one of the world’s most influential cities but also contributes to the economic growth and vitality of our region. We extend our sincere gratitude to Alaska Airlines for their commitment to enhancing travel options and for choosing Palm Springs International Airport as a key part of their expanding network.”

San Luis Obispo-Las Vegas

We love connecting our California guests in new ways. This daily route will link San Luis Obispo in California’s Central Coast region with Las Vegas, allowing for connectivity with additional routes in our network. From San Luis Obispo, we also fly nonstop to San Diego, Portland and Seattle.

“The decision to introduce this service was driven by the growing demand for travel between these two destinations,” said Courtney Johnson, director of airports for San Luis Obispo County. “We anticipate that the Las Vegas-San Luis Obispo route will contribute to increased passenger traffic, benefiting our airport and the region as a whole.” 

As we announce these new routes, we begin new daily nonstop service today, June 15, between San Diego and both Washington, D.C. (IAD) and Eugene, Oregon. We’ll also start new daily nonstop service between San Diego and Tampa on Oct. 5, when we’ll fly to 35 nonstop destinations from San Diego.

Our flights on mainline aircraft and regional jets offer a three-class cabin. Guests in First Class and Premium Class enjoy early boarding and the most generous legroom of all domestic carriers. With our award-winning service, our First Class offers complimentary hot meals based on a seasonal menu with a range of fresh, bright West Coast-inspired flavors along with a variety of beverages. Flyers in Premium Class can also take advantage of complimentary cocktails, hand-selected wines and local beers. 

With power outlets at every seat on our mainline aircraft, you can enjoy hundreds of free movies and TV shows that can be streamed inflight to your own devices. Our flights are also enabled with streaming-fast satellite Wi-Fi available for purchase, as well as the option to pre-order from a range of fresh meal selections. 

Alaska’s Aviation Day lands in San Francisco for the first time

Each year, Aviation Day draws thousands of young people to explore careers at Alaska and Horizon Air, Alaska’s regional airline. At Aviation Day, youth have the opportunity to meet pilots, flight attendants, engineers, technicians, air traffic controllers and first responders and see an up close view of different types of aircraft. 

This year, which marked our 15th year of hosting Aviation Day, nearly 3,000 teens attended events in Seattle, Portland and San Francisco—for the very first time. Jaxon Dingel, who is deaf, was part of a group of students from the California School for the Deaf who had never considered a career in aviation until meeting some of our employees and realizing there is a place for him in the industry.

“Some of the Deaf can feel limited in their job choices, but Aviation Day really shows them they can have a high-paying job with great benefits,” said Dingel’s mother Heidi. “It doesn’t matter if you have a disability, there’s all kinds of opportunities.”

Jaxon Dingel (left) with Ryan Di Giovanni, a pilot crew scheduling duty manager, who is also deaf at San Francisco’s first Aviation Day.

All of our Aviation Day events give students a unique & up-close opportunity to meet with our employees to hear about real-world experiences. Students get to sit in the flight deck of aircraft, inspect wheel wells and landing gear and speak with other industry professionals, including military and aerobatic aircraft pilots.

Captain Kim Gabrelcik, Alaska’s Chief Pilot in San Francisco and leader of this year’s Aviation Day at SFO, said if the event piqued the interest of at least one student, it was a success in her book.

Dingel left Aviation Day with plans to learn more about an aircraft mechanic career and had a profound experience meeting Alaska employees Ryan Di Giovanni and Darren Holness.

Captain Kim Gabrelcik

Ryan, a pilot crew scheduling duty manager, was also born deaf. Holness is hard of hearing and wears a hearing aid and cochlear implant. He has a hands-on job as an aircraft technician trainer and has been with Alaska since 2017. He says that even though having a disability can sometimes be challenging, he never gave up and hopes he can inspire others to do the same.

Darren Holness

The most important thing is do not be discouraged, believe in yourself,” said Holness. “If you have a passion, pursue it.”

“The students who come to these events realize they can really do whatever they set their minds to,” Di Giovanni said. “It’s part of our culture at Alaska to be inclusive of people with all kinds of disabilities and backgrounds and I love that we get to do things like this for people in our communities.”

Dingel says he sees Ryan as a role model because he proves that the aviation industry is not just for the hearing and that the Deaf can do it as well.

Hiring the next generation of aviators

Building a strong aviation workforce is what enables safe and reliable operations. As we continue to grow and bring dozens of new airplanes into our fleet, we need thousands of people to join our team. This year, we plan to hire more than 3,500 new employees in a variety of roles and functions. From maintenance technicians to contact center agents, flight attendants to pilots, customer service agents to software engineers, we will have jobs available for anyone who wants to be part of our team.

Long-term demand for aviation jobs remains strong as Boeing estimates that 602,000 new pilots, 610,000 new maintenance technicians and 899,000 new cabin crew members will be needed to fly and maintain the global commercial fleet over the next 20 years.

“Diversity is also a priority for us,” said Neil Thwaites, Alaska Airlines regional vice president of California. “In 2022, women made up less than 10% of commercial pilots nationwide. That number is even more dire for Black female pilots, who make up only .5% of all pilots across the industry. We’re working to change that through programs like Aviation Day and our Ascend Pilot Program Academy.”

Last March, Alaska and Horizon teamed up with Hillsboro Aero Academy, a premier flight school in the Pacific Northwest, to launch the Ascend Pilot Academy (APA). This new development program, designed for aspiring pilots, provides a simpler, more financially accessible path to becoming a commercial pilot at Horizon and, eventually, Alaska. The program is part of a larger effort to address a growing pilot shortage and increased travel demand. 

In partnership with Hillsboro Aero, we expect to register and train up to 250 students a year. Additionally, our Ascend Pilot Academy aims to provide aspiring pilots with a more accessible path to becoming student pilots. Enrolled cadets will be eligible for access to financial aid and a stipend of up to $26,463 upon signing on to work for Horizon Air. 

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“That’s why we’re here; to show that there’s another face to aviation and anyone can do this,” said Seattle Base Chief Pilot Ron Limes. “I’m sure some of these kids have never seen a female pilot and they see Kim today—or they’ve never seen a Black pilot and they see me today and they go, ‘Well, I can do that too.’ It sparks a dream.”

Alaska Airlines adds new nonstop between Honolulu and Seattle area’s second airport

Daily, year-round service between Seattle/Everett (Paine Field) and Oahu starts Nov. 17 with introductory fares starting as low as $149 one-way

Alaska Airlines is celebrating more aloha with new nonstop service between Seattle/Everett and Honolulu starting this fall – our first flight connecting Paine Field-Snohomish County Airport and the Hawaiian Islands. The daily, year-round flight begins on Nov. 17, just in time for travel during the holiday season. 

For a limited time, introductory fares between Seattle/Everett and Honolulu start at $149 one-way along with Mileage Plan award redemptions as low as 12,500 miles one-way. Tickets are available for purchase now at alaskaair.com. This is our first new route to Honolulu in more than a decade and it will be the longest flight we will operate from Paine Field.

If there’s one place our guests told us again and again that they wanted to fly to from Seattle’s northern airport, it’s beautiful Hawaii. We’ve been eager to make it happen,” said Kirsten Amrine, vice president of revenue management and network planning for Alaska Airlines. “We’ve proudly served the Hawaiian Islands for more than 15 years. This new route adds Seattle/Everett to our list of West Coast gateways to Honolulu. We’ll be ready to say aloha to our guests on this new flight this fall.” 

Seattle/Everett is a closer, more convenient airport when traveling to and from points north of Seattle. We launched our regularly scheduled service there in March 2019 when the new facility opened. Many of our guests enjoy the smaller terminal’s location and upscale lounge atmosphere instead of spending time and money driving to Seattle’s main airport. The airport recently welcomed its one-millionth passenger on a departing flight from Seattle/Everett.

“For those traveling between Honolulu and Washington State, flying into Seattle/Everett will be a terrific, less congested option and a great way to access the greater Seattle area,” said Daniel Chun, director of sales, community and public relations in Hawaii for Alaska Airlines. “With this new flight, we’ll fly a combined six nonstops a day to the two Seattle area airports from Oahu, providing our leisure and business travelers with a variety of flight times that work best for them.”

The initial seven weeks of the flight schedule for the Thanksgiving and winter holidays varies from the winter schedule that starts on Jan. 8, 2024:

Thanksgiving-Winter Holiday 2023 Schedule

Start DateCity PairDepartsArrivesFrequencyAircraft
Nov. 17Seattle/Everett-Honolulu9:10 a.m. 1:38 p.m.Daily737
Nov. 17 Honolulu-Seattle/Everett11:25 p.m.7:10 a.m.Daily737
All times local

Early Winter 2024 Schedule

Start DateCity PairDepartsArrivesFrequencyAircraft
Jan. 8Seattle/Everett-Honolulu9:25 a.m. 1:40 p.m.Daily737
Jan. 8Honolulu-Seattle/Everett2:40 p.m.10:47 p.m.Daily737
All times local

With this new service in the fall, we’ll fly from eight West Coast gateways to Hawaii.

We currently fly to the Islands from Anchorage, Seattle/Everett, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles and San Diego. We serve Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Island of Hawaii from these airports with an average of 30 nonstop, peak-daily flights.

We fly to nine destinations from Seattle/Everett.

Most of our flights serving Seattle/Everett are on our E175 regional jets flown by our sister carrier Horizon Air. We fly from Paine Field to Anchorage, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Orange County, Palm Springs (seasonal), Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco and Tucson (seasonal). In February 2022, we started mainline service on select flights to Las Vegas and Phoenix on our 737 aircraft.  

With our award-winning service, we offer onboard amenities for a terrific trip to the Islands. Our 737s have a three-class cabin including First Class and Premium Class. With power outlets at every seat, you can enjoy hundreds of free movies and TV shows that can be streamed inflight to your own devices. Our flights are also enabled with streaming-fast satellite Wi-Fi available for purchase, as well as the option to pre-order from a range of fresh meal selections. 

Alaska marked 15 years of flying to Hawaii this past fall. We launched our first flight between Seattle and Honolulu on Oct. 12, 2007. Service between Seattle and Lihue, Kauai, started two weeks later, followed by Anchorage-Honolulu service in December 2007. In 2008, Alaska began serving Kona on the Island of Hawaii and Kahului on Maui.

Alaska Airlines employee sparks innovative recycling tactic in Nome, Alaska, changing the game for Cargo business & planet 

Living in Nome, Alaska, which is famously only accessible by air, sea and dogsled, Caitlin Auktweenna “Auk” Tozier knows intimately how important it is to recycle. 

Tozier has been an Alaska Airlines ramp agent for more than three years and also works as a technology specialist at Kawerak, a Native nonprofit corporation in Nome that supports the region through programs ranging from education to natural resource management to economic development. 

Through her work with Kawerak, Tozier has observed her community’s efforts to collect recycling, which sometimes sits for months waiting for space on barges headed to Seattle. Materials come in and never leave, she said. Sometimes, it’s heavy equipment, lead-acid batteries, electronics — things that are usually expensive to transport and unhealthy for the environment if left unattended. So, Tozier was inspired to do something to fix it. 

As part of her job as a ramp agent, Tozier fills and loads water jugs used as ballast, a process in which water or other material is used onboard an aircraft to help control or maintain its stability – something that is needed given the harsh winds often experienced in Nome. 

“Rather than send these empty jugs to Nome, and then fill them all with water to send back, I thought, ‘why don’t we just send some of these recyclables?’” Tozier said.  

With family roots going back generations in Nome and in the village of Deering on Kotzebue Sound, Tozier was raised to care for her environment — a responsibility embedded deep in her family’s Inupiaq values — and she saw an opportunity to bring those values into her work with Alaska. “Respect for the land and nature is important to us,” she said. “Any recyclables we can carry out won’t have to remain in this community, where we don’t have the resources to process them.”  

Tozier took the idea to use recycling as ballast to her station manager, Crystal Andersen-Booth, and the Alaska Air Cargo leadership team. The team agreed and actions were set in motion. 

Following successful test runs last summer (before the ground froze in Nome), this spring, Alaska Air Cargo launched a program to carry up to 50,000 pounds of recyclable waste each year out of Nome, supporting clean-up efforts in rural communities along the Bering Sea and saving valuable water resources – all thanks to Tozier’s inventive thinking. The recyclables are collected from 16 communities around the Seward Peninsula Bering Strait region and packed onto pallets by Kawerak employees. 

“Empty planes fly much better with ballast, but instead of moving water and throwing it away, we’re going to use clean electronic scrap as ballast and really do something good for the community,” said Jeff Olver, Alaska Air Cargo director of cargo operations for Seattle and the state of Alaska. Because the recyclables will replace water jugs that had been filled in Nome to create the ballast weight, this program will also save more than 6,000 gallons of local water each year — the equivalent of 20 days of water used by an average American family household. 

The new recycling program joins initiatives across Alaska Airlines to reduce Alaska’s environmental impact , and allows a smaller airport like Nome to contribute to the company’s larger recycling efforts in a big way.  

Our rural terminals don’t have the same resources as our bigger terminals companywide,” Tozier said. “We are responsible for bringing a lot of consumables into the community, [and we need to take responsibility] so they don’t all end up in the landfills, which are running out of space.” 

What it means to the communities around Nome 

Rural communities, like Nome, regularly burn trash at the landfills to make room for more waste. By creating a system to get recyclables out of communities we serve, we’re helping them maintain a clean environment, improving human health and also reducing our reliance on clean water.  

For over a decade, Kawerak has been partnering with regional carrier Bering Air to move clean recyclables like electronics, lead-acid batteries, and fluorescent bulbs from smaller communities to Nome, where it often sits to wait for the barge space.  

“People save their recyclables so they can be backhauled,” said Anahma Shannon, environmental program director at Kawerak. “They want to protect their environment here because they know how essential it is to their livelihood and the subsistence way of life.” 

The new partnership with Alaska Air Cargo will allow more of the electronic waste to leave Nome each year and reach recycling plants in Seattle faster. Eliminating wasted water is important to the community, too.   

The opportunity to expand to other communities 

Alaska Air Cargo is open to working with other community organizations to expand the program to carry recyclables out of other regions across the state of Alaska. “This starts with Nome but has the potential to benefit a lot of communities as part of our longstanding commitment to the state of Alaska,” Olver said. 

The biggest benefit is to public health, Shannon said. “People here rely on their environment for subsistence resources all year long,” she said. “They eat the meat, the berries, the greens, they drink the water, and they breathe the air of our environment. The great part about doing this work is that you know you’re contributing to the health of our region’s people.” 

Alaska Airlines 14th Fallen Hero Cart arrives at San Antonio Airport

Custom designed cart to honor active, retired and veteran military service members   

Last week, our 14th Fallen Hero Cart arrived at San Antonio International Airport after a journey of more than 2,000 miles from SeaTac, Washington.

The cart will be used by San Antonio International Airport to ensure the remains of those who’ve served our country and those who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice are treated with respect and honored while being transported to and from the aircraft. It will be available for any airline to use.

This one-of-a-kind cart is specifically designed with an interior plaque dedicated to San Antonio and also acknowledging the important role of law enforcement. With blue paint, red carpet and American flag curtains, the customized cart’s exterior also features plaques representing the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and Space Force.

Pioneered by a group of Alaska maintenance & engineering team members in 2011, the Alaska Airlines Fallen Soldier Program was founded to provide proper Department of Defense protocols for handling and transporting fallen military service members.

This program is designed to make sure every service member, active, retired or veteran, and their families are honored for their service and sacrifice in a respectful and dignified manner on their final journey,” said Brian Bowden, Alaska line aircraft technician and founder of the Fallen Soldier Program. “The goal is to have a cart at every station we serve.”  

Months in the making

While the basic elements of the Fallen Soldier Carts are the same, each one also features some unique elements.

The planning to create a cart begins months in advance with most of the work being done by volunteers in Seattle.

“We chose San Antonio because we’ve had several Fallen Hero flights in and out of there over the years. There are also four military bases nearby,” said Kevin Kruse, Alaska line aircraft technician and founder of the Fallen Soldier Program. “When we consider destinations, we prioritize cities with a strong military presence.”

Alaska also has two inspectors based in San Antonio, Todd Gibson and Tom Wertman, who have been instrumental in the design and building of each cart since 2011.

The basic elements of the carts are identical. They have American flag curtains and red carpet on the inside. They are painted Navy blue with the emblems of each branch of the United States Armed Forces on the front and back, and a large decal mounted on the top representing the program. Each cart also features some unique elements.

“The build team puts a lot of effort into customizing each cart specific to the station it’s dedicated to,” Kruse said. “Our machine shop makes a ‘license plate’ with the airport code, and there is artwork mounted inside each cart representing the city and state. The San Antonio cart has the city seal on one end, and a woodcarving dedicated to the State of Texas Peace Officers on the other.”

Sendoff to San Antonio

On May 10, more than 50 Alaska and Horizon Air employees, community members, leaders and members of the Patriot Guard gathered at Angle Lake Park near Alaska’s Corporate Headquarters to send the Fallen Hero Cart off on its journey to San Antonio.

Accompanied by members of the Patriot Guard, the cart was transported on its 2,000-mile journey by trailer and arrived to San Antonio International Airport (SAT) on May 22.

“This was my first time being part of such a remarkable event, and I was deeply moved by the passion and dedication of everyone involved,” said Brandon L., Horizon project manager. “The cart itself was incredible, and the words shared by the Patriot Guard Riders resonated deeply. I feel immensely grateful to be a part of this program, honoring the sacrifice of our servicemen and women.”

Dedication ceremony in San Antonio

On May 22, Alaska Airlines employees, in conjunction with San Antonio International Airport and San Antonio Aerospace, a Commercial Aerospace unit of ST Engineering, held a hand-off ceremony today for a new Fallen Hero Cart based at SAT.

It was the largest Fallen Soldier Cart dedication we’ve ever had and the first time two military livery aircraft have been able to join the hand-off.

Due to the size of ST Engineering’s facility, we had the opportunity to bring our 737-800 ‘Honoring Those Who Serve’ special aircraft in from Seattle and Horizon flew the E175 with a similar livery in from Portland to use as a backdrop for the ceremony. Several employees who made contributions to the program traveled on those aircraft to witness the ceremony.

Carlos Zendejas, Horizon VP of flight operations, speaks at the ceremony in San Antonio.

The event in San Antonio was especially impactful because in just a few days on Memorial Day, we will remember all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.”

– Carlos Zendejas, Horizon VP of flight operations

“It was an amazing experience to see both aircraft side by side and to see the cart presented to San Antonio. These carts ‘Honor Those Who Serve’ and transport our fallen heroes home to their final resting place with honor and dignity,” Zendejas said. “The event was especially impactful because on Memorial Day, we remember all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice; we owe them and their families a debt of gratitude that we can never repay.”

How ready are you for summer travel? Here’s everything you need to know.

Do you have lots to learn when it comes to summer travel, or could you teach the course yourself? Get ready to fly Alaska Airlines this summer with these tips.

It’s getting warmer, students are getting antsy, and everyone is ready for a summer vacation. Like last summer, we expect full aircraft, busy airports and lots of guests.  It’s nothing we haven’t handled before and some insider tips that can help make summer travel a breeze.

Pre-reading 📚

This summer is going to be one for the record books:

  • We’ve returned to our pre-pandemic level of flying, operating 1,200 daily flights to more than 120 cities.
  • We expect June 30 – the Friday before Independence Day – to be our busiest travel day of the summer. Fridays and Sundays continue to be our peak travel days, but guests are stretching trips due to flexible work policies.
  • Our guests are loving Latin America, so we’ve increased seats to our destinations there by 30%. We’re also seeing strong demand for travel to national parks and have added service from five West Coast cities to the Yellowstone area.
  • We’re staffed up and ready for summer with about 6% more staff than we had in 2019. Our pilot schoolhouse is graduating twice as many pilots each month compared to last spring.

The essentials – Summer Travel 101 🧳

Get travel ready before coming to the airport

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 digital boarding pass to your phone, text it to yourself, or even print one before arriving to the airport.

Pros know that Alaska is transforming our airport lobbies with new technology, so preparing before you get to the airport will help you get to your gate faster.
Know when to arrive

You know your needs best. We recommend arriving at the airport 2 hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours for international. If you’re traveling with a large number of guests or checking bags, you might decide you need more time. If you’re not checking a bag or are enrolled in a trusted traveler program, then you might decide you need less time.

Some of our hub airports – including Seattle – are undergoing construction that may increase congestion. Pros know to read all email communication from Alaska leading up to a trip to stay up to date with the latest information.  

101 extra credit: not checking bags? If you’re flying with just a carry on, skip the lobby and head straight to security with your digital boarding pass.

So close to pro – Summer Travel 201 🥪

Pay for your checked bags ahead of time

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. But why not cut that time spent in the lobby even more? You can pay for checked bags on the Alaska app or online when you check in and be on your way in minutes.

Pre-order that in-flight snack

We just announced our drool-inducing summer menu, and we want to make sure you can try every dish you have your eye on. The way to sample everything is by pre-ordering your meal on the app or online up to 20 hours before your departure. How good does that smoked salmon bagel sandwich sound?

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. And our hometown airport, SEA, offers a program called Spot Saver to save a spot in the security line. Pros know to use one (or all!) of these programs to make security a breeze.  

201 extra credit: if departing out of Seattle, set a reminder on your phone to sign up for Spot Saver in advance. You can sign up 5 days before your flight.

Talk about elite – Summer Travel 301 ✈

Upgrade your seat

If there’s room, we offer the opportunity to upgrade to First Class for only 15,000 miles. There may also be an opportunity to pay for an upgrade within 24 hours of departure through online check-in or at the airport.

Become a Lounge member

With airports getting busier this summer, our relaxing lounges offer the chance to start your vacation before you board the plane. Pros know how much a pre-flight pancake can relax you before the runway.

Start planning your next trip

You can book flights on many of Alaska’s partner airlines right on alaskaair.com. Why not spend your miles while you’re earning even more at 35,000 feet? All made easy with our streaming fast $8 Wi-Fi.

301 extra credit: Alaska Airlines Visa Signature cardholders get $100 off a Lounge+ membership. Sign up today.

Put your new knowledge to use on your next Alaska flight.
We can’t wait to spend our summer with you!

How Seattle Mariners’ Julio Rodriguez can score you a flight on Alaska Airlines

Baseball is back! And we’re stoked to add Seattle Mariners’ Center Fielder Julio Rodriguez (aka J-Rod) to our roster as his official airline. Not only will T-Mobile Park’s center field be a “No Fly Zone” this season because of Julio, but fans can also score Alaska flights whenever he hits a home run. Learn more below.

Fly, Fly Away Fridays

Baseball fans who use the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card can earn 2X miles for purchases during Mariners’ Friday home games at T-Mobile Park. And if a Mariner hits a home run during the fourth inning of each home game, one lucky fan will win 100,000 Alaska Airlines miles.

Julio’s home runs = free flights

Ready for Flights With #44? Starting this season, each time Julio launches a ball over the fence for a home run, number 44 is sending 44 fans to the Alaska Airlines destination of their choice with a round trip flight. Wherever Julio’s home run lands, 44 fans sitting in that section will win. Belize? Hawaii? You name it and Julio could help get you there.

“We’re so excited to be teaming up with Julio,” said Eric Edge, MD of marketing & advertising. “He represents a new era in baseball and has already inspired so many people in the Seattle community. He’s a great partner for the Alaska brand!”

Does this center fielder feel at home in a middle seat?

We talked to Julio about how he prefers to travel, and his answers might inspire your next trip to a tropical destination or the ballpark.

✈ Window, middle or aisle seat?

Window!

🎧 What is something you always make sure to pack when you travel?

An iPad and always headphones.

📺 What are your favorite movies or shows to watch on board?

When I’m not watching film preparing for our next game, I’m watching anime (Naruto is my favorite).

🌴 What is your favorite Alaska destination to fly to?

Florida! I train there in the offseason and the weather is always nice and warm.

Alaska Air Cargo to deliver season’s first catch of Copper River salmon at Sea-Tac Airport

The annual rite of spring continues as Alaska Air Cargo flies the season’s first catch of prized Copper River salmon from Cordova, Alaska, to Seattle and points beyond. The first shipment is scheduled to arrive at approximately 7 a.m. on Tuesday, May 16, at the Alaska Air Cargo Warehouse at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

Every year Alaska Air Cargo partners with the state of Alaska’s three largest seafood processors – Trident Seafoods, OBI Seafoods and Copper River Seafoods – to bring the coveted fish to Seattle and Anchorage, Alaska, where it will then be delivered to restaurants and grocery stores throughout the Pacific Northwest and across the country.

Native artist Crystal Worl designs Alaska Airlines aircraft taking Indigenous language and art to the skies

Summary

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Growing up near the shores of Juneau, Crystal Kaakeeyáa Rose Demientieff Worl was used to seeing Alaska Airlines fly over the mountains into her hometown. She says she dreamed of having her artwork displayed on a plane for years — and today, that dream became a reality.

“Every time I looked at an Alaska plane, I couldn’t help but visualize the salmon being in formline, or having some sort of design that represents identity. I can’t help but look at things and see how to Indigenize them,” says Crystal.

Photos by Ingrid Barrentine

Photos by Ingrid Barrentine

Today, we’re honored to reveal Crystal’s latest masterpiece: Xáat Kwáani (Salmon People). It’s the first aircraft in the history of any domestic airline to be named in an Alaska Native language and to depict the ancestral importance through Northwest Coast formline art.

“My heart is so full and warm,” says Crystal. “Every time I create something big or small, it’s the same feeling of just fulfilling this need and wanting to create something and share my story, to stimulate something that’s in me that feels connected. It feels good to say that I live in Juneau and fish and hunt here and eat off this land. My family’s been here for a long time, and I can say my ancestors are from here, and I’m eating the same food in the same place that they once were, and that’s really special to be able to share that and say that and feel that—and to create and retell their stories through my eyes. It’s powerful.”

Alaska Airlines has always had a profound connection to the state of Alaska—after all, it’s the foundation for becoming the premier West Coast airline we are today. In 1932, we took our first flight between Anchorage and Bristol Bay, home of the world’s most extensive sockeye salmon run.

Our support in the state of Alaska encompasses everything from transporting critical medical supplies/cargo and investing in airport infrastructure to working with Alaska Native-owned businesses and organizations, as well as partnerships with universities to increase access to education and aviation careers.

The Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-800 will fly in our fleet for many years throughout our network and enter passenger service on May 12, 2023, with an inaugural flight from Anchorage through Southeast Alaska. The first stop of Flight 62, will be through Crystal’s hometown of Juneau, then it will continue through Sitka, Ketchikan and Seattle.

Rosita Worl (top left) serves as the president of Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI). Crystal and her family recently honored their clan’s origins at SHI’s celebration ceremony of 12 new totem poles along Juneau’s waterfront for its Kootéeyaa Deiyí, or Totem Pole Trail.

Rosita Worl (top left) serves as the president of Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI). Crystal and her family recently honored their clan’s origins at SHI’s celebration ceremony of 12 new totem poles along Juneau’s waterfront for its Kootéeyaa Deiyí, or Totem Pole Trail.

A tribute to strength and resilience

As a tribute to salmon and its ancestral importance, this aircraft is the first in the country to be named in an Alaska Native language and the first time Alaska Airlines has featured a language besides English on the main door of an aircraft.

“This will be significant to have Indigenous language on an airplane,” says Crystal. “People will see it, they’ll read it, they’ll try to say ‘Xáat Kwáani’ (Salmon People), and they’ll want to know more and be curious to learn about it and want to feel connected to it. I think that’s significant in terms of the relationship we need to make between our languages that need speakers. So, I’m excited to be part of this.”

Learn to pronounce Xáat Kwáani

Rosita Worl (top left) serves as the president of Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI). Crystal and her family recently honored their clan’s origins at SHI’s celebration ceremony of 12 new totem poles along Juneau’s waterfront for its Kootéeyaa Deiyí, or Totem Pole Trail.

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Having read about Crystal, seen her murals in Juneau and Anchorage and knowing her love of monumental art, she came to mind when we had the opportunity to paint a very large canvas— a 737-800,” said Marilyn Romano, regional vice president in Alaska. “Only this time, instead of remaining stationary and having viewers come to the art, we will take the art everywhere this plane flies, inviting guests to learn more about Alaska Native and Native American history, art, culture and language.

- Marilyn Romano

Regional Vice President in Alaska

At a family gathering recently, her uncle, Marcelo Quinto, shared the significance of Crystal’s latest work, “She is part of us, she is part of the state of Alaska — her art is something that belongs to all of us here in Alaska, and it’s just fitting that it’s going on Alaska Airlines so that it gets to go through the whole state of Alaska. So, I hope everybody congratulates her and will enjoy knowing this is all a part of us.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Crystal Worl (@crystalworl)

lo sharing a proud moment with Crystal at a family gathering.

Crystal has high hopes that this aircraft will encourage people to learn and embrace Indigenous culture, values — and to do our part to make the world a better place for the salmon.

Salmon has a special meaning and significance in the State of Alaska and the West Coast. For Alaska Natives and Native American cultures of this region, the salmon is part of a spiritual and cultural identity.

“Salmon are perhaps probably the strongest beings on earth,” she said. “We have a great amount of respect for salmon because they’re feeding my family, clan members, community members, and Alaskans. The nutrients in their bodies feed our people, this community. It’s how our Tongass rainforest is so lush and how our animals are so big and strong. Their muscles feed our muscles and stimulate so many facets of our existence and have for thousands of years — I just hope that will remain for the next generations.”

Crystal standing in front of her 60-foot by 25-foot mural of Tlingit activist Elizabeth Peratrovich on Juneau’s downtown library building, which is designed in a modernized version of the Lukaax̱.ádix̱ clan crest, the Sockeye Salmon along with Peratrovich’s moiety, the Raven in formline design.

We are honored to share the vibrant art of Northwest Coast formline with Alaska Airlines and the world. We see the ‘Salmon People’ design symbolizing the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian cultural value of Wooch. Yax, Gu dlúu, Ama Mackshm: social and spiritual balance. Our Indigenous artists continue to utilize and evolve formline art, honoring our ancestors and inspiring future generations.
– Sealaska and Sealaska Heritage Institute

We are honored to share the vibrant art of Northwest Coast formline with Alaska Airlines and the world. We see the ‘Salmon People’ design symbolizing the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian cultural value of Wooch. Yax, Gu dlúu, Ama Mackshm: social and spiritual balance. Our Indigenous artists continue to utilize and evolve formline art, honoring our ancestors and inspiring future generations.
– Sealaska and Sealaska Heritage Institute

Alaska has always been, and will always be, a Native place with deep, rich cultural heritages. For too long, Alaska has been viewed primarily through a geographical lens, when it is the many Indigenous cultures and peoples that truly make our state unique. We honor and appreciate Alaska Airlines’ commitment to ensuring that from the moment someone sets foot on this airplane, they will have an opportunity to learn about Alaska’s First Peoples, who have inhabited Alaska since time immemorial
– Emily Edenshaw President and CEO, Alaska Native Heritage Center.

Crystal Kaakeeyáa Rose Demientieff Worl is Tlingit Athabascan from Raven moiety, Lukaax.̱ádi Sockeye Clan, from the Raven House and is Deg Hit’an Athabascan from Fairbanks, Alaska, and Filipino.

Crystal has created several public art installations in Alaska including a design on the side of a Juneau’s Capitol City Fire Rescue ambulance, a steel cut medallion installed in downtown Juneau, and last year, painted a mural 125- foot by 48-foot in Anchorage.

In March, Crystal designed “The Art of Skateboarding” stamps for the U.S. Postal Service that laud the sport of skateboarding — and what Indigenous groups have brought to the skating culture.

Today, Crystal lives in Juneau, Alaska, as a co-owner and co-designer of Trickster Company with her brother Rico Worl. Trickster Company promotes innovative Indigenous design focused on the Northwest Coast art and exploring themes and issues in Native culture.

Alaska Airlines unveils salmon livery designed by Alaska Native artist to celebrate Indigenous culture & language

As a tribute to Xáat Kwáani (Salmon People), this special Alaska Airlines aircraft is the first of any domestic airline fleet to be named in an Alaska Native language and to depict the ancestral importance of salmon through Northwest Coast formline art.

Alaska Airlines unveiled its newest aircraft paint theme today – Xáat Kwáani – designed by the talented Alaska Native artist Crystal Kaakeeyáa Rose Demientieff Worl. Xáat Kwáani means “Salmon People” in the Alaskan Tlingit language and refers to the spiritual link between the people who interact with the beloved salmon and all of us who benefit from their stewardship of the environment.

Using Northwest Coast formline art, the salmon design by Worl is a one-of-a-kind work that honors salmon, culture, artistic expression, and language. Traditional formline art dates back thousands of years and is a two-dimensional design style of the Northwest Coast.

“Every time I looked at an Alaska plane, I couldn’t help but visualize the salmon being in formline, or having some sort of design that represents identity. I can’t help but look at things and see how to Indigenize them,” said Worl. “I have high hopes this project will encourage people to learn and embrace Indigenous culture and values.”

Through her art, Worl aims to bring attention to Indigenous culture and to pass on ancestral values to a new generation.

Crystal Worl has a love of monumental art — most recently murals gracing the sides of buildings in Juneau and Anchorage for locals and visitors to enjoy. And we had a large blank canvas — a 737-800,” said Marilyn Romano, regional vice president, Alaska Airlines. “During our first conversation, Crystal shared her desire to paint an Alaska Airlines plane — she has flown with us most of her life. Salmon as a focus was intentional and Crystal shares the relationship between salmon and Native people through storytelling and artistic design.”

Salmon has a special meaning and significance in the state of Alaska, the Pacific Northwest and along the West Coast. Some travel as far as 600 miles each way, each uniquely adapted to its particular river system, ocean and watershed environment.

Learn more about how Worl’s design came to life at https://bit.ly/3MhaZ6G.

The Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-800 is the first livery of a U.S. airline fleet to have the name of the plane in an Alaska Native language and the first time Alaska Airlines has featured a language besides English on the main door of an aircraft.

“This will be significant to have Indigenous language on an airplane,” said Worl. “People will see it, they’ll read it, they’ll try to say ‘Xáat Kwáani’ (Salmon People), and they’ll want to know more and be curious to learn about it and want to feel connected to it. I’m excited to be part of this.”

The aircraft will begin flying on May 12, 2023, with an inaugural flight from Anchorage through Southeast Alaska. First stop of Alaska Airlines flight 62 will be through Crystal’s hometown of Juneau, the state’s capital, before it continues through Sitka, Ketchikan and Seattle.

Xáat Kwáani (Salmon People) paint facts:

  • It took 117 gallons of paint to complete the livery.
  • Four main colors were used to create the livery: Midnight Blue, Atlas Blue, White and Pink.
  • From landing to take-off, it took just 12 days to paint.
  • The specially painted livery will fly for a number of years through a paint system that applies a protective clear coat over the base coats. This protective coating will keep the livery looking fresh for many years.
  • Down a timelapse video of the painting of the plane.

Learn more about Worl, download photos and the full Xáat Kwáani media kit at https://bit.ly/3LW4PHI.

Download Media Kit
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