HONOLULU – Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA), parent company of Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. (“Hawaiian”), plans to report its second quarter 2022 financial results after the market closes on Tuesday, July 26, 2022. An investor conference call is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time that day.
The call will be open to all interested investors through a live audio webcast accessible in the Investor Relations section of Hawaiian’s website at HawaiianAirlines.com. For those who are not able to listen to the live webcast, the call will be archived for 90 days on Hawaiian’s website.
About Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian® has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of the past 18 years (2004-2021) as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation and was named No. 1 U.S. airline by Condé Nast Traveler’s 2021 Readers Choice Awards. Consumer surveys by Travel + Leisure and TripAdvisor have placed Hawaiian among the top of all domestic airlines serving Hawaiสปi.
Now in its 93rd year of continuous service, Hawaiian is Hawaiสปi's biggest and longest-serving airline. Hawaiian offers approximately 130 daily flights within the Hawaiian Islands, daily nonstop flights between Hawaiสปi and 16 U.S. gateway cities – more than any other airline – as well as service connecting Honolulu and American Samoa, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, and Tahiti.
The airline is committed to connecting people with aloha by offering complimentary meals for all guests on transpacific routes and the convenience of no change fees on Main Cabin and Premium Cabin seats. HawaiianMiles members also enjoy flexibility with miles that never expire. As Hawai ‘i’s hometown airline, Hawaiian encourages guests to Travel Pono and experience the islands safely and respectfully.
Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA). Additional information is available at HawaiianAirlines.com. Follow Hawaiian’s Twitter updates (@HawaiianAir), become a fan on Facebook (Hawaiian Airlines), and follow Hawaiian on Instagram (hawaiianairlines). For career postings and updates, follow Hawaiian’s LinkedIn page.
For media inquiries, please visit Hawaiian Airlines’ online newsroom.
Alaska Airlines surprises employees with 90,000 miles to travel the globe
Alaska Airlines is celebrating its 90th anniversary by giving all employees the gift of travel.
While many of us were instructed to stay home during the pandemic, airline employees were part of the essential workforce who remained on the front lines. Each day brought new challenges, regulations and precautions that our people had to carefully navigate while continuing to care for our guests, communities and each other.
As we inch our way to a new normalโhappily seeing travelersโ pent-up desire to hop on a planeโAlaska is taking a moment to thank each employee for their relentless commitment to caring for our guests for 90 years & counting by giving them 90,000 miles to fly anywhere in the world.
As we celebrate 90 years of flying, we wouldnโt be where we are today without our incredible people who work nonstop to keep things moving, even throughout a global pandemic,โ said CEO Ben Minicucci. โWhen you think about how many airlines have come and gone since 1932, itโs an amazing achievement that weโre still here and stronger than everโit’s because of the genuine care and hard work our people bring to our operation every day.โ
Our COO Constance von Muehlen surprised a few of our hardworking employees today with this exciting news!
The great thing about miles is they never expire and offer flexibility to travel not just on Alaska, but also on our oneworld partners like British Airways, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Finnair and our other airline partners. Travel awards begin at just 5,000 miles, and can be used to book First Class tickets, a relaxing stay at a hotel or tickets to an anticipated eventโthere are so many ways to use airline miles!
With 90,000 miles, you can plan a trip to almost anywhere in the world:
For instance, a roundtrip flight from Seattle up and down the West Coast starts at just 10,000 roundtrip, which means you can get you up to nine roundtrip flights!
Roundtrips from Seattle to New York start at 25,000 miles, or even visit Hawaii from San Francisco starting at 30,000 miles roundtrip.
Want to travel internationally? A roundtrip flight to Europe from the West Coast starts at 60,000 miles through our oneworld partners. Mileage prices do vary so search for your travel dates to see the prices for the dates and cabins you want to travel in.
Watch COO Constance von Muehlen surprise a few of our hardworking employees today with this exciting news:
Travel is what we do. Itโs who we are. Here are some reasons why we love it:
Many of our employees come to work for an airline because of a passion for adventure and travel, so what better way to honor 90 years of flying than with the gift of travel?
In one word, we asked our network of employees to tell us why they travel and what motivates them to keep flying. We hope their answers inspire you to start planning your next trip.
I travel for nature,” says Matt, a senior software engineer in Seattle. “I try to find the natural beauty everywhere I roam.”
I travel to escape,โ says Amanda, who works as an accounting specialist in Seattle. โThis means I travel to get away from normal life, learn new things and then I appreciate the life I already have when I return!โ
I travel for Knowledge,โ says Nick, a customer care representative in Seattle. โIโm a huge science and history buff and I love the outdoors, so I travel the world visiting national parks, historical sites, museums or even just awesome mountains to climb.โ
I travel because of friends,โ says Ryan, a senior information security engineer. โBecause I like creating fun, unique experiences. Time is the most valuable thing I have, and I like creating unique opportunities with them.โ
Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. Appoints Wendy Beck and Craig Vosburg to its Board of Directors
HONOLULU — Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA) (the “Company”), the parent company of Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. (“Hawaiian”), today announced the appointment of Wendy Beck and Craig Vosburg to its board of directors.
Ms. Beck has extensive finance leadership experience in the consumer and travel industries, most recently serving as executive vice president and chief financial officer at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. Mr. Vosburg, chief product officer at Mastercard, has specialized in driving cultural and technological transformation to develop new products and businesses.
“We are delighted to welcome Wendy and Craig, who will bring invaluable expertise to our Board at a pivotal time as Hawaiian prepares to grow with a renewed focus on technology and product investments to provide even greater value to our guests,” said Lawrence Hershfield, chairman of the board of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc.
Prior to her tenure at Norwegian, Ms. Beck held executive positions at Domino’s Pizza Inc., Whataburger Restaurants, LP, and Checkers Drive-In Restaurants. She earned a bachelor's degree of science in accounting from the University of South Florida.
Mr. Vosburg, who has spent the last 16 years in various leadership roles at Mastercard, previously held management positions at Bain & Company, Inc., A. T. Kearney, Inc., and CoreStates Financial Corporation. He holds a master's degree in business administration from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and a bachelor of science in business administration from Bucknell University.
About Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian® has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of the past 18 years (2004-2021) as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation and was named No. 1 U.S. airline by Condé Nast Traveler’s 2021 Readers' Choice Awards. Consumer surveys by Travel + Leisure and TripAdvisor have placed Hawaiian among the top of all domestic airlines serving Hawaiสปi.
Now in its 93rd year of continuous service, Hawaiian is Hawaiสปi's biggest and longest-serving airline. Hawaiian offers approximately 130 daily flights within the Hawaiian Islands, daily nonstop flights between Hawaiสปi and 16 U.S. gateway cities – more than any other airline – as well as service connecting Honolulu and American Samoa, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and Tahiti.
The airline is committed to connecting people with aloha by offering complimentary meals for all guests on transpacific routes and the convenience of no change fees on Main Cabin and Premium Cabin seats. HawaiianMiles members also enjoy flexibility with miles that never expire. As Hawai‘i’s hometown airline, Hawaiian encourages guests to Travel Pono and experience the islands safely and respectfully.
Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA). Additional information is available at HawaiianAirlines.com. Follow Hawaiian’s Twitter updates (@HawaiianAir), become a fan on Facebook (Hawaiian Airlines), and follow us on Instagram (hawaiianairlines) and TikTok (@HawaiianAirlines). For career postings and updates, follow Hawaiian’s LinkedIn page.
Flying Alaska Airlines this summer? 6 tips to make your next flight easier
Summer can fly by fastโand with record high travel volumesโweโre here to help you have a great trip and get you where you need to go.
Weโve pulled every lever in our control to increase our stability this summer, resulting in a strong June in which we completed over 99% of our flights. This reliability came from the combination of proactively trimming our summer schedule earlier this spring and hiring and training thousands of new frontline employees. As in the communities around us, positive COVID cases continue to impact our employees, adding some uncertainty to our staffing levels.
Here are some tips to help you fly through summer:
1. Plan ahead
Give yourself plenty of time to get to and through the airport. Parking, checking bags and getting through security can take longer during peak travel times. Visit our airport guides before your trip for recommended arrival times, ticket counter hours, airport services and more. Remember: We begin boarding flights 30 minutes before takeoff.
Save time through security with SEA Spot Saver, a reservation program to get you through the security process quicker in Seattle. Similar spot saver programs are also at CHS, EWR, MCO, PHX, YYC.
Join a trusted traveler program Membership in programs like TSA Pre-Checkยฎ, Global Entry, Nexus or SENTRI allow you access to the faster security screening lanes at participating airports, where you don’t have to remove your shoes, belts, or light jackets, and your 3-1-1 liquids bag and laptop can stay in your carry-on.
2. Avoid lines, go green, download our app
Alaskaโs app is the way to go! Get your boarding pass, check your flight status and plan your trip all from the palm of your hand. Download the Alaska Airlines app for iPhone, Android, or Windows Phone before your next flight.
Pro tip: Connecting flights can also increase your chances of experiencing a delay, so if you can fly nonstop, book it!
3. Pre-order onboard meals
Enjoy fresh ingredients inspired by the West Coast, from snacks to freshly prepared meals, by pre-ordering your favorites ahead of your flight via your reservation on our app or alaskaair.com. Meal orders are open 14 days before departure.
Pro tip: Mileage Plan members can store a method of payment in their Mileage Plan account for touch-free inflight purchases, including food and beverages. Join/Sign in Mileage Plan
4. Stream + surf with $8 Wi-Fi
Never miss out on your latest show or searching for something in the sky with our new $8 flat rate for Wi-Fi. You can connect to Wi-Fi from the moment you board our planes enabled with satellite Wi-Fi, instead of waiting for the connection to kick in after the boarding door closesโitโs seamless connectivity from gate to gate.
Our team is here to take care of you 24/7. If you need to reach us, text us at 82008 or chat with us. You can also call our reservations team at 800-252-7522.
If your flight is affected by a schedule change, we will move you to the next available flight. If your new flight works for you, great! We’ll see you onboardโif not, here’s what to do if your flight has been changed or canceled.
6. Check the weather if flying with pet(s)
Sunny summer days can bring high temperatures in some cities we serve. When temperatures forecasted exceed safe pet travel limits, weโre unable to fly animals in our baggage compartment. Learn more about traveling with pets.
7 ways to make the most of your Mileage Plan elite statusย
Those who get it, never want to lose it: Elite status in Alaska Airlinesโ Mileage Plan. Itโs that good.
With an array of benefits, it can be overwhelming and, frankly, easy to overlook what your status brings to the table when you fly with us and our fellow oneworld Alliance members. Weโre here to change that, especially as many of us are travelling more.
1. Land an upgraded seat โ right away.
As you might already know, elite members on Alaska enjoy complimentary First Class and Premium Class upgrades when available.
Each tier has a set of fare classes that are eligible for instant upgrades that can be used as early as when you book your trip. If upgrade space is available on your flight and you book one of these fare classes, youโll be upgraded immediately.
If no upgrades are available at booking, or you didnโt book one of the fare classes eligible for upgrades at booking, youโll be put on the upgrade waitlist. Where you sit on the waitlist depends on four factors:
Your elite tier
The fare class your ticket is booked in
If you reached Million Miler or Two Million Miler with us (this is a new addition)
The final tiebreaker, when all of the above is equal, is the date and time youโre added to the waitlist
The upgrade window opens five days (120 hours) before travel for MVP Gold 75K and 100K, three days (72 hours) prior for MVP Gold and two days (48 hours) prior for MVP.
It helps to know that not every seat thatโs shown on our seat map is eligible for an upgrade โ even within the upgrade window โ and sometimes upgrade space is not available until closer to departure. Friendly reminder: Saver fares are not eligible for upgrades.
We recently made a notable change: The upgrade list now shows all guests who are eligible for upgrades โ not just those who have checked in. Youโll see the latest upgrade list beginning 24 hours before the flight on our app, online or at the gate. Dive into more details about qualifying for complimentary upgrades.
2. Share your status with friends or family.
Every year, MVP Golds and higher receive four Gold guest upgrades. This is a great way to share your status with people like friends or family.
You can apply the Gold guest upgrade to a reservation youโve already made, or you can see where the guest upgrade can be used instantly when youโre booking a flight.
Like complimentary upgrades, using guest upgrades is dependent on space availability. Top things to know when using this perk:
Not all fares are eligible. To see which ones you can apply a guest upgrade to, select โMVP Gold guestโ in search results and look for flights with a blue โFโ.
Be flexible. Off-peak flights or dates may likely have more availability for instant upgrades using a guest upgrade.
Check back closer to travel. If no upgrade space is available when you book, visit the Manage Reservation page closer to your trip since upgrade availability may change.
Note: Not all fares are eligible to have a Gold guest upgrade applied. Weโve mapped out specifics of what you need to know when using Gold guest upgrades.
3. Earn bonus miles.
As an elite, you earn bonus miles with every flight you take with Alaska or our partners.โฏ Mileage Plan offers the highest elite bonuses in the sky, getting you to that next award even faster. Elite bonus miles are earned on top of any base flight miles earned, but not on promotional bonus miles.
Mileage Plan offers the highest elite bonuses in the sky, getting you to that next award even faster. Elite bonus miles donโt count as elite qualifying miles or toward tier requalification.
Elite bonus miles range from 50% of base miles to 150% of base miles depending on your tier. Learn more about our tiers.
4. Keep your status when you fly on world class airlines.
If you have elite status with us, you automatically have Priority tier privileges with the oneworld Alliance, a group of the worldโs leading airlines with connections to more than 900 destinations in 170 territories.
MVP members a oneworld Rubyย
MVP Gold members a oneworld Sapphireย
MVP Gold 75K/100K members a oneworld Emeraldย
The benefits are worth crowing about: Our elite flyers can get priority check-in, access to preferred seating and priority waitlist when on standby, priority boarding, bonus miles and more depending on tier status. oneworld Sapphire and Emerald members can also access partner lounges when traveling internationally.
The specific benefits vary depending on the airline youโre flying on, and itโs helpful to know that you will not necessarily receive the exact same benefits youโd receive on Alaska. For example, youโre eligible for complimentary upgrades on Alaska but upgrades are currently not a oneworld benefit.
5. Enjoy added benefits when flying American Airlines.
American Airlines is a oneworld member like us, but we also share a longstanding partnership. As a Mileage Plan elite, youโll enjoy added benefits when flying on American Airlines โ on top of your oneworld Priority privileges:
All our elites are eligible for complimentary access to select extra legroom seats known as Main Cabin Extra on American Airlines when thereโs availability. Unlike Alaskaโs Premium Class, Main Cabin Extra does not have a waitlist if these seats are full.
All elites enjoy free bags and priority boarding.
MVP Gold 75K and 100K members are eligible for space-available complimentary business or first-class upgrades on American Airlines in the U.S. and between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Bermuda and Central America, with confirmation as early as 72 hours before departure if seats are available. Youโll be prioritized after American Airlinesโ Platinum Pro members. Members are now eligible for upgrades whether the flight was booked with us or on American Airlines.
We know changes happen. MVP Gold 75K and 100k receive complimentary, same day confirmed changes on American Airlines.
6. Treat yourself in the Lounge and onboard.
Our guests love our Lounges. Our MVP Gold 75K/100K members receive four complimentary day passes every year. You can even share them with family and friends if you like. Interested in purchasing a Lounge membership? All our elites get a $100 discount.
On board, we like to pass along special somethings to our MVP Gold members and higher when theyโre with us in the main cabin. Savor a complimentary premium beverage or a jcoco-branded chocolate bar. Our MVP Gold 100K members are also offered a light snack in the main cabin, such as popcorn, potato chips or chocolate almonds.
7. Keep your status with elite-qualifying miles.
Elite-qualifying miles (EQMs) are the ticket to earning and keeping your status with us. Our EQMs are accrued based on the distance you fly and any class of service bonuses.
You can gain elite status based on the eligible miles earned or segments flownโnot just on Alaskaโbut also flying on our additional airline partners.
Note: Each of our airline partners has a different earn rate that may not always equal 100% of the miles flown.
In addition to the total eligible EQMs or total segments flown, thereโs a minimum number of trips required on flights marketed and operated by Alaska in order to earn or keep your status.
Since EQMs vary by the type of fare you book, certain fare classes โ such as First Class โ earn even more. Itโs an amazing way to rack up EQMs and get you to elite status faster. For example, if you purchase a First Class ticket on Alaska, youโll earn 200% of your total flown miles as EQMs. Learn more about the EQMs you can earn with us.
Our Mileage Plan offers the fastest path to elite status in the United States. Not only are the elite qualifying thresholds some of the lowest compared to other U.S. airlines with similar qualification criteria, but there are also no minimum revenue requirements to earn or keep your status.
We hope youโll continue enjoying your benefits or sign up today to join the many travel perks!
Alaska Airlines partners with like-minded brands to offer guests products made with care
Care guides us in pursuit of brands that care about people and the planet. They share a meaningful purpose and spark joy simply by focusing on the little things that matter.
Behind every pretzel twist or chocolate covered almond or truffle and even soap in our bathrooms, thereโs a meaningful purpose and reason why brands are part of the Alaska experience.
At our core, we are all about taking care of peopleโfrom our guests to each other.โฏWe care about offering the most genuine care, value and ease in the skyโitโs what sets us apart from other airlines and attracts other like-minded brands to love working with us.
Below are some of the products we carry onboard and in lounges, plus a little more about each of the beautiful humans behind the brands.
Weโve put in time and lots of thought to find brands to work with that care about the same things we do. These companies are risk-takers, problem-solvers, are ethically-minded, thoughtful, kind and believe even the smallest of thingsโlike a pretzel, a scent or an almondโcan have a purpose,โ said Todd Traynor-Corey, MD Guest Products.
Stellar Snacks
โItโs not just a pretzel, itโs a labor of love.โ
The mesmerizing packaging is as creative as the tiny twists inside. Donโt miss artistsโ signatures on the corner of every bag!
Founders of a timeless classic, Elisabeth Galvin (she/her) and Gina Galvin (they/them), along with their brilliant team, bake their pretzels from scratch daily in Carson City, Nevada. From hand-picked seasonings to sustainably harvested flours, they take pride in using natural ingredients to make their ambitious flavors.
Stellar Snacks believes that something as small as a pretzel can have a purpose. Youโll notice onboard, each bag of Stellar Snacks is a little work of art. They intentionally partner with budding artists to bring its packaging to life. Artists are given a platform to showcase their talents.
“Itโs one of the ways we love to give back and highlight a talented person that may otherwise go unseen,โ says Gina.
We believe in creating Stellar experiences for allโso we partner with brands who also want to make a difference,โ says Gina. โFor us, the bottom line is the value we bring to people and the planet, so you have to be courageous, inclusive, sustainable and most of all, kind. After one flight with Alaska, itโs no mystery why it is the Most Caring Airline, and we know that care branches into so many aspects of the businessโin-flight and behind the scenes.โ
Antica Farmacista brings transportive, artfully composed fragrances to familiar spacesโlike our aircraft and in our Lounges.
Founded nearly 20 years ago in Seattle by two dear friends, Susanne Pruitt (she/her) and Shelley Callaghan (she/her), Antica’s decadent fragrances are meant to make you feel good and transport you to a fond memory or feeling while also nodding to a time-honored craft.
Every scent is infused with care and a lot of thought, so that each aroma reminds you of a time or place,โ says Shelley. โFor me, some take me back to my childhood or moments with my grandfather. We want [people to enjoy the spaces theyโre inโwhether itโs on an airplane, stepping into a hotel or your living roomโlike memories, fragrance should be familiar, lasting and draws you in.โ
As a breast cancer survivor and mother of two boys, Susanne is no stranger to seeking out adventure and lives every day to the fullest. For her, itโs all in the details.
โBeing able to run a business with your best friend is always an adventure and even more meaningful because we care so much about the little things and making people feel a certain way,โ she said.
โOcean Citron,โ was specially created by Antica to give our guests cool blue ocean vibes with notes of California lemon, soft jasmine, lavender, green tea, among others.
Deeply committed to making fragrance an extension of oneโs style and environment, Shelley says they work with brands to master what their fragrance could be. Their collection currently has over 20 alluring fragrances, including Alaskaโs very own scent, called โOcean Citron.โ
The refreshing ocean-inspired products can be found in all our aircraft lavatories (sanitizer if youโre traveling on a Q400) and in our Lounges where you can enjoy its pairing lotion.
SkinnyDipped
They donโt sugar coatโฆthey Skinny Dip!
By the end of a bittersweet summer in 2012โafter the passing of a dear friend of theirsโ Breezy and her mom, Val, hit the reset button and knew they wanted to spend more time together. So, they started SkinnyDipped in Valโs kitchen in Seattle.
Together, with the help of Breezyโs two best friends, they began hand-dipping almonds at their kitchen table. After a lot of testing (and tasting), they perfected and launched SkinnyDippedโs OG Dark Chocolate Cocoa Almonds, which is one of our sweet & salty snacks onboard.
Loaded with plant protein and made without any artificial ingredients, SkinnyDipped products are made with the utmost careโthe almonds you get onboard are even sourced from certified bee-friendly farms.
Kindness is infused into everything we create and bake,โ says Breezy. โIf we wouldn’t put it on our table for our friends and family, then we wouldn’t put it under SkinnyDipped. It simply comes down to doing the right thing, and we very consciously have tried to be the cleanest, best, most delicious, healthiest product we can be for all.โ
“Alaska was always kind of like a dream partner for us. Featuring our snack onboard made us feel like hometown heroes, just that embrace of local and showing support of the community was huge,โ said Val. โThe fact that Alaska was willing to pick us up and believe in us at a fairly early stage in our business was super heartwarming and still to this day is a very special relationship to us.โ
As a mother/daughter-founded company, Val and Breezy are committed to raising up and supporting women and the children they love in both their local communities and around the globe. Thatโs why they launched their give-back program, Brick by Brick, to help support women, build schools and recycle (literal) TONS of plastic in West Africa, where the majority of the worldโs cacao is grown.
SkinnyDipped snacks onboard Alaska flights are made from whole roasted almonds dipped in a thin layer of dark chocolate with a kiss of maple sugar and sea salt and a dusting of cocoa; the thin chocolate layer means you get more nut than chocolate (and less sugar) in every bite.
Seattle Chocolate
Simply put, we’re here to lift you up
Like Alaska, Seattle Chocolate is endlessly inspired to evolve, to be better to each other and the planet and to find a way to leave the world kinder (and more delicious & fly) than we found it.
As a woman-owned company, they know that magic happens when everyone has a voice. โIt makes us bolder, pushes us to take risks, and honestly, itโs just a lot of fun,โ says Jean Thompson, owner and CEO of Seattle Chocolate since 2002.
Jean Thompson, Seattle Chocolate owner and CEO (right) โ and Alaska MVP Gold member โ says the companyโs values and products reflect her own passions and tastes. Read more.
Seattle Chocolateโs mission has always been to make the world brighter through chocolate, especially when it comes to empowering girls and women. That’s why 10% of net profits from every purchase from their collection supports Girls Inc.
Learn more about their impact and join us in cheering on the next generation of movers, shakers, and change-makers!
Fun fact: Seattle Chocolate jcoco-branded bars are also thank-you gifts for Mileage Plan MVP Gold members.
Like many of the brands we team up with, including the ones featured today, each strives to leave the world a happier, healthier and better place to beโand we couldn’t be more onboard with that kind of care.
Stay tuned for more behind the brands youโll find with Alaska!
Are you interested in being a supplier for Alaska Airlines? Check out our refreshed supplier site (www.alaskaair.com/suppliers) to register your company and be added to our database, learn about our Supplier Diversity program, access invoicing instructions and more.
Alaska Airlines supports Juneteenth Foundation โbecause when values align, great opportunities can take flightโย
Our values guide everything we do, and itโs the reason Alaska supports the Juneteenth Foundation.
Last year, like many companies, we recognized Juneteenth for the first timeโa significant milestone in American history that reminds us to reflect on our country’s past and consider how we can show up and build a more equitable future for all, together.
Juneteenth is not just a Black holiday, itโs an American holiday that gives us all an opportunity to show how far weโve come and how much more work we still have to do so everyone has the same opportunity,โ said James Thomas, director of diversity, equity and inclusion. โWeโre excited to partner with the Juneteenth Foundation because when values align, great opportunities can take flight.โ
This year, The Juneteenth Foundation hosted The Freedom Festival in Washington D.C., one of the largest Juneteenth week-long celebrations in America, where Alaska employees, students attending HBCUs, community leaders, celebrities and Fortune 500 brands came together to celebrate some of the worldโs biggest names in Black culture, philanthropy, entertainment and music.
As the official airline partner of the Juneteenth Foundation celebration in Washington D.C, weโre honored to represent the aviation community and contribute to a great cause. We also left a special surprise under peopleโs seats (roundtrip tickets) and canโt wait to see them in the skies soon.
At Alaska, we believe education is the great equalizer and a critical component on the path to equity.
Last year, we joined the HBCU Partnership Challenge to promote greater engagement and support between private companies like ours and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). We know we still have work to do, but we also recognize the impact we can have when we use our voice to advance our values.
We have a responsibility to use our platform and voice to encourage conversations around the need for greater diversity, equity and inclusion within our industry and beyond,” says CEOโฏBen Minicucci, who was recently elected to UNCFโs Board of Directors. “We are inspired and guided by our value to do the right thing and know weโre stronger when everyone has equal opportunity and a seat at the table.โ
Weโve been a proud partner with UNCF for over 15 years, and last year committed to donating another 10 million miles to fly students to college tours at HBCUs around the country.
Over the weekend, at the Juneteenth celebration in Washington D.C., 25 students were awarded scholarships toward their education from the Juneteenth Foundation, Alaska Airlines and other partners. Citerra Johnson was one of several who could attend. As a nursing student going into her senior year at Coppin State University, she says she was so excited to be receiving one of the grants.
Five of the scholarship recipients were able to attend the Juneteenth Foundation Honors ceremony.
The Juneteenth scholarship means a lot to me, I was looking for scholarships and grants through my school and saw this and decided to apply because it will really help ease some of the burden going into my last year,โ Johnson said.
Alaska Airlines is committed to DEI
Last February, we announced our 2025 diversity, equity and inclusion goals and committed to creating a more inclusive workforce. Since then, weโve shared updates on whatโs underway to meet our goals. This work is core to our values and critical to our strategic growth plan, and weโre pleased to share weโre making progress. Learn more.
Through career panels, events, philanthropic giving, and community partnerships, as of June 2022, weโve created career pathways for more than 15,000 young people.
How Our Employees Are Creating Spaces for Reflection and Inclusion this Juneteenth (and Beyond)
Allyship is a crucial ingredient to the success that the Hawaiian Airlines Network for Blackย Employees and Allies employee resource group (NBEA ERG) has had in elevating and empowering our company’s Black teammates.ย This month, the NBEA leaned on its work community to host a seriesย of impactful events focused on educating employees and honoring Juneteenth’sย historical and cultural significance.
โOurย Juneteenth celebrations were a potent example of the impact that strong allyship has toward creating intentional progress and more inclusive workplaces,โ said Michael Harvey, senior manager of information technology and president of the group.
A new pop-up space dedicated to reflection and commemoration of Juneteenth and Black culture
In April, with Juneteenth on the horizon (June 19), the group began consulting with Hawaiian Airlines’ cultural and community teams to brainstorm ways to engage other employees in meaningful experiences. The result: transforming a room in a high-traffic area in the companyโs headquarters into a creative space designed for reflection and commemoration of Juneteenth.
Developed under the guidance ofย The Pลpolo Project, a local nonprofit that works to redefine what it means to be Black in Hawaiโi and in the world, and celebrated Black artistย Nanci Amaka, the space is rich with books about Juneteenth and Black history, R&B and Soul vinyl albums with a record player, and a selection of Amakaโs thought-provoking artwork, including her poem “Rising Sun,” written in commemoration for Juneteenth at Hawaiian Airlines.
Amaka pictured with NBEA ERG members during the unveiling of the Juneteenth reflection space last week
“Rising Sun” by Nanci Amaka
Amaka’s artwork featured inside the Juneteenth reflection space, including a gilded slave collar and a bouquet of cotton, dried flowers and peacock feathers
In addition to the room, Amaka’s photography was featured in a walkable gallery space, beckoning employees and office visitors to stop and reflect while appreciating her powerful expressions of vulnerability, mortality and metamorphosis.
Nanci Amaka’s video piece in her “Ije Eze” series, which plays on loop inside theย Juneteenth reflection space
CREDIT: Nanci Amaka – “Ije Eze” series – www.nancimuraoka.com
A selection of Amaka’s artwork featured in the walkable gallery space at the Hawaiian Airlines headquarters
The NBEA’s Juneteenth commemoration also included a lunchtime presentation by Alphonso Braggs, president of the NAACP โ Hawaiสปi chapter, held in the company’s LunchBox cafeteria. Braggs emphasized the importance of inclusivity and how every employee can play a role in advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace.
Michael Harvey (left) and Alphonso Braggs (right) after his presentation
“It’s important that workplaces ensure cultural recognition and encourage a greater understanding of ethnic backgrounds. I think for Black employees, it’s important they understand African Americans’ contributions to Hawai’i. There are so many things that we made historical impacts on that are unknown today,” Braggs said during his presentation.
Braggs added, “When someone doesn’t know their history or contributions, they don’t take a greater sense of pride in moving those legacies forward. When we bring and embrace cultures together, there is more awareness, acceptance and tolerance in the community and workplace.โ
Braggs during his lunch-hour presentation
The NBEA ERG capped its events with a special pau hana (happy hour) featuring live music by Nฤ Hลkลซ Hanohano Award-Winner Kamakakehau Fernandez, complimentary food and drinks from Bourbon Street, a Black-owned restaurant and bar in downtown Honolulu, and a pop-up Hawaiian Airlines logo store that raised $2,000 for The Pลpolo Project.
“Having so many prominent Black, Hawaiสปi-based artists and leaders involved in our Juneteenth celebrations was monumental for us. We are in complete awe with their work and are inspired by their willingness to support our vision with their wisdom,โ Harvey reflected.
Left: Nฤ Hลkลซ Hanohano Award-Winner Kamakakehau Fernandez | Right: Employees filling their plates with food from Bourbon Street Restaurant and Bar
It’s been two years since the NBEA ERGย spread its wings and took flight at Hawaiian Airlines. Harvey reflected that the journey to get to where the group is today has been exciting, supportive and challenging all at once.
“Our ERG started with a blank canvas, but we felt it was important first to take some time to figure out who we were and how we would amplify our mission of empowering our Black employees,” he said. “Fast forward to 2022, and I feel we’ve done a great job at painting a colorful identity for ourselves and serving as stewards of diversity and inclusion.”
Officers of the NBEA ERG pictured with Amaka (center) during the unveiling of the Juneteenth reflection space
Since the group’s inception, its members have volunteered at local food banks, provided guidance on talking about allyship, Black culture in Hawaiสปi, Juneteenth and Black History Month across company channels, hosted presentations and panels with social justice figures, and built spaces for conversations around race, culture and identity via intimate book club and roundtable events.
โWe are grateful for the support that weโve received from our colleagues and leaders across the company. Their help has helped add more visibility to our work and unlock additional resources so we can get to where we want our group to be,” Harvey added.
From CSA to VP: Celley Buchanan elected vice president of airport operations and customer service at Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlinesโ board of directors has elected Celley Buchanan vice president of airport operations and customer service. In this role she is responsible for all aspects of the airlineโs airport operations across its broad network, excluding Seattle.ย
Buchanan is a 23-year veteran of Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air. She started her career as a customer service agent in Los Angeles (LAX) and served there for 13 years, progressing into leadership of all aspects of Alaskaโs operation, including serving as LAX general manager.
She then moved to Horizon Air as director of ground operations for two years, before moving back to Alaska as director of operations support services. She has been in her current role, managing director of airport operations support for Alaska since 2020, where she set the long term strategy for ground support equipment, business partner performance, cabin cleaning, deicing and divisional safety, among other programs.
Celley Buchanan
Buchananโs leadership helped to establish the airlineโs Next-Level Care program at the start of the pandemic, which introduced more than 100 safety policies and procedures designed to ensure the safety of our guests and employees.
Celley is a people leader with a deep understanding of our operation and what makes us tick,โ said Wayne Newton, senior vice president of airport operations and customer service at Alaska Airlines and chairman of McGee Air Services board of directors. โHer tenacity and skill working across the organization will raise our airports teams to even higher levels of performance, safety and empowerment.โ
Buchanan is a graduate of the University of Washingtonโs Foster School of Business Executive MBA program. Connect with her on LinkedIn.
Love is โ quite literally โ in the air at Alaska Airlinesย ย
Grab a tissue! This love story may bring tears to your eyes and definitely make your heart skip a beat.
Yesterday, Skywest Flight Attendant Veronica flew with her girlfriend (and newly hired Alaska pilot!) Alejandra on our special Pride delight flight from San Francisco to Los Angeles.ย Skywest is one of Alaska’s regional airline partners in the Pacific Northwest.
They first met while flying Alaska Airlines two years ago.
โI was just like, โOh, wow, this girl, sheโs perfect,โโ Veronica said.
Recently, she shared her idea for a mid-air marriage proposal with the team and how the couple has always wanted to fly on our โFly With Prideโ planeโof course, we were onboard and going to make this happen!
On Wednesday afternoon, Veronica told Alejandra to pack her bags for a quick trip from SFO to LAX. Halfway through the flight, in true flight-attendant fashion, Veronica used the PA system to propose to Alejandra (in English and Spanish!).
But thereโs a plot twist!
We had no idea Alejandra was also planning to propose to Veronica that same day.
When the couple deplaned, Alejandra surprised all of us by popping the question to Veronica at the gate, and a double proposal celebration at LAX ensued!
Itโs awesome, I feel very, very loved today,โ said Alejandra. โAlaska has always been my number one forever. I can definitely tell how much they care.โ
Fly with Pride on Alaska Airlines
There are many ways you can fly with Pride this year. Whether itโs jet setting to a parade or taking a trip to visit loved ones, we have you covered to celebrate pride onboard.
Weโre also celebrating the first anniversary of our Pride aircraft in Alaska Airlinesโ network.
โIโve always appreciated Alaska; how deeply involved they are in the LGBTQ+ community,โ Veronica said. โAll the love and support is just super overwhelming and amazing.โ
Food & Beverage
Treat yourself at 30,000 feet (for those 21+) with our new INTRINSIC wine in First Class. The fruity, spicy and silky-smooth Washington State Cabernet Sauvignon is not only delicious but also proudly supports GLAAD and the LGBTQ+ community.
Movies & TV Shows
During your flight, don’t miss our dedicated collection of LGBTQ+ films and TV shows on board, such as RuPaul’s Drag Race, Love Simon, Transfinite, The Birdcage and more. Connect to our Wi-Fi network on your device to watch for free and visit AlaskaWiFi.com to browse our extensive library.
Music
Listen closely as you board our plane and you might hear songs from LGBTQ+ artists, including Torii Wolf, Sarah, the Illstrumentalist, Low Girl and more. We love setting the tone for a great flight!
Parades
Want to celebrate Pride with us? Alaska will be sponsoring parades throughout the year:
Portland, June 19
San Francisco, June 26
Seattle, June 26
San Diego, July 16
Boise, Sept. 9-11
Honolulu, Oct. 15
Palm Springs, Nov. 4-6
At Alaska, we are proudly committed to the communities we serve. We care deeply about celebrating diversity, creating a culture of inclusion and belonging, and fighting for equality in the workplace and around the globe to help create a more equitable society.
As longtime supporters of the LGBTQ+ community through public policy advocacy and corporate giving, we continue to explore ways to foster an inclusive work environment and work closely with Alaskaโs Pride Crew (formerly known as GLOBE), our LGBTQ+ business resource group and employees to create meaningful change for our colleagues, guests and partners.
Happy Pride month!
Hello there, Cleveland! Hey, Miami! Alaska Airlines now flies to two new destinations
Weโve also added new nonstop routes that connect Boise to Idaho Falls and Las Vegas;new nonstop flight between Anchorage and Salt Lake City starts service this weekend
With the official start of summer just days away, Alaska Airlines is once again expanding our horizons with the launch of five new routes this week as many of us are eager for fun in the sun in different places.
Weโre now flying to two new cities: Cleveland and Miami with daily nonstop service from our hometown hub in Seattle. Plus, we keep growing in Boise with new nonstops to both Idaho Falls and Las Vegas. And we have a new nonstop flight between Anchorage and Salt Lake City.
Northeast Ohio, South Florida, southern Idaho โ weโre flying new routes and heading to new destinations where our guests want to go,โ saidย Brett Catlin, vice president of network and alliances at Alaska Airlines. โWeโre seeing strong tickets sales for all our new nonstops. Thatโs another indication that so many of us are ready to get out and go places.โ
Tickets for all flights are available for purchase on alaskaair.com.
We begin flying between Seattle and Cleveland today. This summer, weโre the only airline connecting the vibrant city in Northeast Ohio with nonstop service to the Pacific Northwest. Cleveland becomes the third city weโll serve in the Buckeye State with daily nonstops to Seattle joining Columbus and Cincinnati.
โWe are truly excited to welcome Alaska Airlines to the Cleveland Market,โ said Robert Kennedy, Director of Airports, Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. โItโs great to see this exceptional air service to Seattle that will connect Clevelanderโs to West Coast cities, Hawaii, western Canada and Alaska.โ
Weโre also launching today our new daily nonstop flight between Seattle and Miami. The popular South Florida vacation spot becomes our 100th nonstop destination from Seattle โ a cultural hub for travelers around the world with its incredible nightlife, art, music, architecture and food. Since 2012, weโve provided nonstop service between Seattle and Fort Lauderdale, just to the north of Miami.
We proudly welcome Alaska Airlines back to Miami International Airport for the first time in 10 years,โ said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. โDaily flights to the Pacific Northwest and beyond will give our residents more travel options, especially to the beautiful state of Alaska. I also commend Alaska Airlines for being included inย TIME Magazineโs list of theย 100ย Most Influential Companies of 2022ย for its work in sustainability, one of my highest priorities for Miami-Dade County.โ
In Boise, we keep growingย with a pair of new flights we know our guests have been eager to see. Starting today, we now offer daily nonstop service to both Idaho Falls and Las Vegas from the Idaho capital city. With these additional routes, weโll fly an average of 31 daily departures fromย Boiseย to 15 destinations โ all nonstop.
Our flight betweenย Idaho Fallsย andย Boiseย will offer an easier, more convenient way to travel for business and leisure. The flight times work out well for a day trip fromย Idaho Fallsย toย Boise: a mid-morning departure and then a return flight in the early evening. The added route joins our existing flights from the Spokane/Coeur dโAlene andย Pullman/Moscowย areas to link all key population centers across the state toย Boise.
โWe are thrilled this moment has become a reality for our great community,โ said Idaho Falls Mayor Rebecca Casper. โProviding this nonstop flight to Boise opens up greater economic opportunities through the only intrastate commercial airline service.โ
Starting June 18, weโll connect two summertime spots that are famous for outdoor adventures: Anchorage and Salt Lake City. Weโll fly nonstop every week. This summer, weโll offer a wide variety of 22 nonstop destinations from Anchorage.
HONOLULU – In honor of National Pride Month, Hawaiian Airlines tapped Hawaiสปi-born dance celebrity Mark Kanemura to kick off its #RainbowRunwayChallenge in a vibrant celebration of inclusivity and aloha. Coinciding with the debut of the airline’s new TikTok channel, followers are encouraged to create their own #RainbowRunwayChallenge dance or walk inspired by the video for a chance to win 160,000 HawaiianMiles, a five-night stay at the Royal Hawaiian Resort and a chance to join Kanemura as the guest of honor on Hawaiian’s Rainbow Runway float at the Honolulu Pride Parade and Festival on Oct. 15.
@hawaiianair โจSWEEPSTAKESโจ Celebrate #Pride and join us in our ๐Rainbow Runway Challenge๐. Show off your own runway walk and enter for a chance to win 160,000 HawaiianMiles, a 5-night stay at the #TheRoyalHawaiian and an opportunity to dance with Mark at the Honolulu Pride parade in October. Here’s how you can enter: 1๏ธโฃ Follow us at HawaiianAir. 2๏ธโฃ Add your own flair and post your runway walk, inspired by Hawai‘i-born celebrity dancer @Mark Kanemura 3๏ธโฃ Post your video and tag us, #RainbowRunwayChallenge and #Sweepstakes in your caption. ๐ณ๏ธ๐#PrideMonth #AlohaIsAloha NO Pโฌ original sound – Hawaiian Airlines
“Dance is a universal language that can break barriers, and the #RainbowRunwayChallenge represents an opportunity for people to express themselves in a fun and prideful way. I have always believed that dance is for everyone, and I am so excited to connect with people through this challenge,” said Kanemura. “This video is all about self-expression and pride, and during the filming I was reminded how proud I am to be from this special place and to be a part of this beautiful community. I cannot wait to return in October for an even bigger celebration!”
The video for the #RainbowRunwayChallenge takes viewers through Kanemura’s hometown to seven notable locations across Oสปahu representing a different color of the rainbow, including the Royal Hawaiian Resort, also known as the “Pink Palace” (red), Waikฤซkฤซ’s Surfboard Alley (orange), Waimฤnalo Country Farms’ sunflower fields (yellow), Kฤko'o สปลiwi’s taro patches (green) and the famous Waikฤซkฤซ pier (blue). The video concludes with an epic dance celebration on a runway at Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, backed by the airline's iconic Pualani aircraft tail (purple). Along the way, Kanemura is joined by several friends who include local LGBTQ+ influencers, keiki (kid) pop dancers, hula dancers, drag queens and members of Hawaiian’s LBGTQ+ employee resource group, Haสปaheo (pride).
The #RainbowRunwayChallenge will come full circle in October for Honolulu Pride, where the sweepstakes winner will join Kanemura as the guest of honor on the official larger-than-life Hawaiian Airlines’ Rainbow Runway float.
The 2022 Honolulu Pride Parade and Festival will kick off on Oct. 1 with events throughout the month. This year’s theme, “Rooted in Pride,” celebrates the cultural and ancestral queer roots in the Hawaiian Islands. As the official airline sponsor of Honolulu Pride, Hawaiian Airlines proudly supports The Hawaiสปi LGBT Legacy Foundation in their mission to educate, facilitate and empower LBGTQA+ people as integral members of Hawaiสปi’s diverse community.
Guests can also follow Kanemura’s footsteps and explore his favorite Oสปahu stops by checking out his new exclusive Island Guide feature.
Hawaiian® has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of the past 18 years (2004-2021) as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation and was named No. 1 U.S. airline by Condé Nast Traveler’s 2021 Readers' Choice Awards. Consumer surveys by Travel + Leisure and TripAdvisor have placed Hawaiian among the top of all domestic airlines serving Hawaiสปi.
Now in its 93rd year of continuous service, Hawaiian is Hawaiสปi's biggest and longest-serving airline. Hawaiian offers approximately 130 daily flights within the Hawaiian Islands, daily nonstop flights between Hawaiสปi and 16 U.S. gateway cities – more than any other airline – as well as service connecting Honolulu and American Samoa, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and Tahiti.
The airline is committed to connecting people with aloha by offering complimentary meals for all guests on transpacific routes and the convenience of no change fees on Main Cabin and Premium Cabin seats. HawaiianMiles members also enjoy flexibility with miles that never expire. As Hawai‘i’s hometown airline, Hawaiian encourages guests to Travel Pono and experience the islands safely and respectfully.
Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA). Additional information is available at HawaiianAirlines.com. Follow Hawaiian’s Twitter updates (@HawaiianAir), become a fan on Facebook (Hawaiian Airlines), and follow us on Instagram (hawaiianairlines) and TikTok (@HawaiianAirlines). For career postings and updates, follow Hawaiian’s LinkedIn page.
