Summary

Alaska Airlines has named John Wiitala as its new vice president of maintenance and engineering. In this principal leadership role, Wiitala will lead professionals throughout the division who maintain the highest levels of safety and compliance with more than 237 mainline Boeing aircraft across multiple maintenance bases.

Wiitala joins Alaska after 34 years with United Airlines, most recently as vice president and chief engineer of tech operations, safety and compliance, where he was responsible for the United fleet. Prior to that role, he was vice president of technical services. Wiitala joined United in 1992 and held other engineering jobs throughout the organization including director of engineering and managing director of project engineering.  

Wiitala began his aviation career in 1988 in project engineering at Aircraft Modular Products in Miami. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Iowa and has served on the board of Argonaut/Davis High School, a Cleveland-based school that empowers youth to pursue pilot and technician certifications. 

About Alaska Air Group

Alaska Air Group, Inc. is based in Seattle and comprised of subsidiaries Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Holdings, Inc., Horizon Air and McGee Air Services. With our recent acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, we now serve more than 140 destinations throughout North America, Central America, Asia and across the Pacific. We are committed to safety, remarkable customer care, operational excellence, financial performance and sustainability. Alaska Airlines is a member of the oneworld Alliance. With oneworld and our additional global partners, our guests have more choices than ever to purchase, earn or redeem on alaskaair.com across 30 airlines and more than 1,000 worldwide destinations. Book travel throughout the Pacific on Hawaiian Airlines at hawaiianairlines.com. Learn more about Alaska Airlines at news.alaskaair.com and Hawaiian Airlines at newsroom.hawaiianairlines.com/blog. Alaska Air Group is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as “ALK.”

Summary

January 5th will mark one year since a door plug detached from one of our aircraft after takeoff on Flight 1282 from Portland, OR to Ontario, CA. It’s fair to say this event changed our airline and our industry. We continue to extend our sincere gratitude to our crew for their exceptional skill, courage and professionalism in ensuring the safe return of everyone to Portland.  

As we mark one year since the door plug incident, it’s important to take a moment to reflect on what we’ve learned, the changes we have implemented and the path forward. This incident has provided us with valuable insights into our operational practices and has strengthened our commitment to safety and compliance across all levels of our organization. Together, we have made significant strides in collaboration with Boeing and our other partners, which we will continue to build upon. 

What we’ve learned and the changes we have made 

Aviation safety is based on many layers of oversight. In the past year, we have spent a lot of time with Boeing leaders reviewing their improvement plans, sharing SMS (safety management systems) best practices and monitoring their progress.  

In addition to oversight from the FAA, our visits to Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita (which makes the fuselage) and the Boeing factory in Renton have allowed us to directly observe the ongoing improvements and offer an additional “second set of eyes.” Our audit team is actively engaged with Boeing’s production quality and control systems. By walking the factory floor and interacting with management and frontline employees, we have fostered transparency and openness, providing us with the necessary information and access to execute our oversight activities. 

To further enhance our oversight at Boeing Renton, we have augmented our team with three M&E employees who possess expertise in aircraft maintenance and inspection. Our three Aircraft Acquisition Representatives (AARs) are now on-site at Boeing five days a week, covering different shifts and remaining on call to conduct inspections as defined by our standards. Ausgael, our business partner, is also present seven days a week, providing continuous oversight. Additionally, we continue to have three engineers at the Boeing delivery center to perform customer walks and oversee customer flight duties, helping to ensure that our aircraft undergo thorough inspections prior to delivery. This further reinforces our commitment to demanding and maintaining rigorous safety standards and requiring that all aircraft meet our expectations before delivery. 

We have also seen improvements in Boeing’s Mechanic Training Program, which now includes extended training periods and increased hands-on opportunities. There has been a focus on communicating the importance of safety and compliance, with a strong emphasis on voluntary reporting. Furthermore, we have observed positive changes in work processes, particularly regarding traveled work, where a SMS risk assessment framework is now employed to manage tasks effectively. We are encouraged to see Boeing leadership’s focus on safety and their commitment to cultural change. 

What are our next steps

Alaska’s employees excel and take pride in our culture of safety, which involves persistent efforts to improve operations in all areas, including in our relationships with Boeing and its suppliers. We are optimistic about Boeing’s dedication and positive momentum in making significant improvements thus far. Looking ahead, we have planned several visits to Boeing in 2025 to ensure our teams and Ausgael are inspecting our aircraft thoroughly and to observe Boeing’s continued process and cultural improvements firsthand. Additionally, we will extend our efforts to the 787 line in Charleston as we prepare for future deliveries.  

Safety is not just a policy – it is our core value that guides our actions every single day. Each of us plays a role in maintaining the safety for each other and our guests. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to safety and your dedication and pride toward ensuring our aircraft are safe and our operations are reliable. 

Brooke Vatheuer 

Vice President, Audit Programs 

Summary

Let’s take a moment to look back at some of the biggest highlights of the year.

Welcoming Hawaiian Airlines

This year, we combined forces with Hawaiian Airlines! Together, we’re stronger than ever, offering our guests access to more destinations, award-winning service and an unparalleled travel experience.

Going more places

We didn’t just grow—we soared! With 19 new routes added this year, we now offer a total of 338 routes connecting you to incredible destinations. Whether you’re chasing the sun, reconnecting with loved ones, or exploring new opportunities, our expanding network makes it easier than ever to get there.

Elevating the premium travel experience 

We’re committed to delivering a premium travel experience with exceptional service, spacious seating, elevated dining options, and seamless connectivity.

Supercharging Mileage Plan benefits 

Whether you’re a Mileage Plan MVP or a first-time flyer, you’re at the heart of everything we do.

Investing in our EverGreen journey

We set a long-term goal to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2040, and 2024 marked major strides forward towards this goal.

Supporting Our Communities

Alaska Airlines has always believed in giving back to the communities we call home.

Happy New Year!

Thank you for flying with us and being part of our journey this year! Here’s to reaching new heights together in 2025 and beyond!

About Alaska Air Group

Alaska Air Group, Inc. is based in Seattle and comprised of subsidiaries Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Holdings, Inc., Horizon Air and McGee Air Services. With our recent acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, we now serve more than 140 destinations throughout North America, Central America, Asia and the Pacific. We are committed to safety, remarkable customer care, operational excellence, financial performance and sustainability. Alaska Airlines is a member of the oneworld Alliance. With oneworld and our additional global partners, our guests have more choices than ever to purchase, earn or redeem on alaskaair.com across 30 airlines and more than 1,000 worldwide destinations. Book travel throughout the Pacific on Hawaiian Airlines at hawaiianairlines.com. Learn more about Alaska Airlines at news.alaskaair.com and Hawaiian Airlines at newsroom.hawaiianairlines.com/blog. Alaska Air Group is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as “ALK.”