Looking to get a head start on your next vacation? HawaiianMiles, the official frequent flyer program of Hawaiian Airlines, has kicked off an exclusive, limited-time member promotion, giving our most loyal guests the ultimate bang for their buck.
Here’s the scoop:
When purchasing HawaiianMiles for their own use or as a gift, members receive a 40 percent bonus that is automatically added to the purchaser’s account. Members can buy up to 10,000 HawaiianMiles – in 500-mile increments— and put it toward their next flight on Hawaiian Airlines.
Triple bonus: Members who purchase miles with their Hawaiian Airlines® Bank of Hawaii World Elite Mastercard® can earn three miles per dollar spent.
So, if you’re packing your bags for the next vacation, or giving the gift of travel for Father’s Day, Hawaiian Airlines has your back. Miles can be purchased online via the HawaiianMiles Member portal or by calling the HawaiianMiles Service Center toll-free 1-877-HA-MILES (426-4537). The promotion ends on Friday, June 14 at 11:59 p.m. HST.
Signing up for the HawaiianMiles loyalty program is free, fast, and can be done online. Once enrollment is complete, members will start immediately earning miles, taking advantage of exclusive benefits, and receiving updates on future promotions.*
Throughout our 90-year history, Hawaiian Airlines has been committed to giving travelers unique opportunities to experience the Islands while they enjoy our award-winning hospitality. As an extension of that company-wide dedication, we launched our frequent flyer program in 1983 and have since grown to be recognized as one of the best frequent flyer programs of 2019.
*DISCLAIMER: The 40% bonus HawaiianMiles offer is valid from 6/7/19 – 6/14/19. New members must have a flight activity to be eligible to purchase miles. Miles must be purchased in 500-mile increments. Members may purchase miles online with a limit of 10,000 HawaiianMiles per transaction and up to three (3) transactions per week. Members may purchase an unlimited number of miles by calling the HawaiianMiles Service Center or Reservations. Miles may be purchased in conjunction with an award or credited in member's account for future award redemptions. Must be a HawaiianMiles member to purchase miles. Miles are non-transferable. Purchased miles are non-refundable. Members may login to purchase miles to be banked or they can call the HawaiianMiles Service Center toll free 1-877-HA-MILES (426-4537). Miles purchased to be used in conjunction with a flight award may be done online when booking an E-Award, or by calling the HawaiianMiles Service Center or Reservations. Purchases may be made with any valid MasterCard™, Visa™, American Express™, Diners™ or Discover™ credit or debit card. All HawaiianMiles terms and conditions apply to purchased miles. Miles purchased are instantly credited and applicable to award redemption.
Singapore airport’s new Jewel dazzles with five-story waterfall, nature walks
If airports held a World Cup, Singapore’s Changi would hold a record number of championships — winning consumer aviation website Skytrax’s annual award for best airport seven years in a row. Now its newest addition, the $1.25 billion Jewel hub, gives Changi the capacity to accommodate up to 85 million total passengers each year — and makes the case that an airport can be an attraction in its own right.
A self-described “lifestyle and entertainment destination hub,” the 10-story Jewel is set between three of Changi’s four terminals. With the opening of the Canopy Park family-oriented attractions on June 10, the hub is now fully ready to welcome 20 million visitors a year. More than half of them are expected to be locals not even bound for a plane.
Shake Shack is among the nearly 300 shops and restaurants in Jewel. (Photo by Kim I. Mott)
Alaska guests can check out Jewel for themselves via Global Partner Singapore Airlines, which will add a new direct route from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Changi starting Sept. 3.
In Jewel, it’s easy to forget you’re in an airport. The 455,000-square-foot complex is home to nearly 300 shops and eateries. It’s been a big hit with locals already: Shake Shack and the first Pokémon shop in Asia outside Japan each drew four-hour lines upon opening.
Jewel also has early check-in gates for more than two dozen airlines — including Alaska Global Partners British Airways, Emirates, Fiji Airways, Japan Airlines, Qantas and Singapore Airlines — as well as a cinema, a YotelAIR hotel and 2,500 underground parking spaces. The top-floor Canopy Park offers ticketed experiences like rope walks and futuristic slides below the glass of Jewel’s dramatic bulbous ceiling.
Many local eateries have found a home in Jewel, including Rich and Good Cake Shop, which makes “Swiss rolls” in various flavors that sell out by noon. (Photo by Kim I. Mott)
Jewel was designed by Safdie Architects, known for modern statements like Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands, which has a prominent cameo in the film “Crazy Rich Asians.” The heart of Jewel — and most of the Instagram selfies — revolves around its five-story, 131-foot waterfall that appears suspended mid-air. Water rushes through a round oculus, cut from a towering dome above, then falls amidst a terraced forest valley home to 2,000 trees and 100,000 shrubs where nature walks and sitting areas look over the falls. Below, the water channels toward two underground levels encased in glass, passing Michelin-star ramen restaurants, reaching a walkway where visitors can press up against the surreal installation. Then, each evening, the whole thing gets a colored light show. It’s quite the sight.
HONOLULU – Hawaiian Airlines today announced the appointment of David M. LeNoir Jr. as vice president of financial planning and analysis. He will lead all aspects of financial planning, forecasting and analysis, as well as oversee Hawaiian’s financial governance and capital budgeting processes.
“David brings a wealth of airline and financial experience to the job,” said Shannon Okinaka, executive vice president and chief financial officer at Hawaiian. “His experience and business acumen will help us remain financially efficient and deliver great value to our guests as we continue to grow as a company.’’
LeNoir, a native of Mobile, Ala. comes to Hawaiian from Silver Airways, a regional airline based in Florida, where he was most recently vice president of finance and accounting. He previously held financial planning and analysis positions at Spirit Airlines and FedEx.
LeNoir graduated from Mississippi State University with undergraduate degrees in business administration and French.
About Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian® has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of the past 15 years (2004-2018) as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Consumer surveys by Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and TripAdvisor have placed Hawaiian among the top of all domestic airlines serving Hawai‘i.
Now in its 90th year of continuous service, Hawaiian is Hawai‘i’s biggest and longest-serving airline. Hawaiian offers non-stop service to Hawai‘i from more U.S. gateway cities (13) than any other airline, along with service from Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa and Tahiti. Hawaiian also provides, on average, more than 170 jet flights daily between the Hawaiian Islands, and over 260 daily flights system-wide.
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). For career postings and updates, follow Hawaiian’s LinkedIn page.
For media inquiries, please visit Hawaiian Airlines’ online newsroom.
Russell Wilson to graduates: Savor the journey, but there’s no time to sleep
Just days away from graduation, hundreds of seniors from Highline Public Schools south of Seattle went on a special “field trip” with Alaska’s Chief Football Officer Russell Wilson at The Museum of Flight. Joined by Alaska COO Ben Minicucci and NASA Astronaut Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger, students were applauded for their academic excellence and encouraged to dream big as they define their futures.
“Today is about celebrating and supporting,” said Metcalf-Lindenburger, the first alumna of Space Camp at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center to go to space. “We celebrate the accomplishments these graduates made, and we support them by encouraging and modeling behaviors and habits that fueled our success.”
Alaska COO Ben Minicucci presents a scholarship to Hannah Flygare.
Minicucci and Wilson, on behalf of Alaska Airlines, presented a few exceptional graduates with scholarships to support them on the next leg of their journey. “It was very inspiring. I wasn’t prepared to be honored in such a way,” said Makena Halen of Choice Academy. “I’m still shaking.”
Danna Chavez of Tyee High School said she almost missed the event. “Today was amazing. I really want to thank Alaska Airlines,” she said. “Meeting Russell, who encouraged me to follow my dreams, was more than I could imagine.”
Each recipient has an inspiring personal story. After graduation, the students will pursue education and ultimately careers in diverse fields ranging from mechanical engineering to community literacy.
Wilson encouraged the students to face their fears as they chase their dreams – and to look for support along the way. “We all need to find motivation within ourselves to be successful, but it’s also important to have a strong support system that keeps us grounded,” Wilson said. “That can be family, friends or people we look up to.”
Although the speakers encouraged students to devote long hours toward achieving their goals, they also urged them to take time to celebrate their achievements along the way – and, most importantly, to savor the journey.
“This journey is yours and it’s up to you to decide where it takes you,” Wilson said. “Work hard, stay humble and surround yourself with people with the same relentless pursuit to perform at a high level. Keep the faith, keep believing.”
Russell Wilson captures the moment with Highline students. (Photo by Ingrid Barrentine)
No Time To Sleep: Graduation celebration
Photos by Ingrid Barrentine
An Alaska flight attendant high-fives students from Highline Public Schools.
“Today is about celebrating and supporting,” NASA Astronaut Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger says.
Alaska Airlines Line Avionics Technician Harold Wallace.
Hawaiian Airlines Reports May 2019 Traffic Statistics
HONOLULU, June 6, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Hawaiian Airlines, Inc., a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA) ("Hawaiian"), today announced its system-wide traffic statistics for the month ended May 31, 2019.
Hawaiian welcomed more than one million guests in May. Total traffic (revenue passenger miles) increased 5.8 percent on an increase of 4.1 percent in capacity (available seat miles) compared to May 2018. Load factor increased 1.4 points year-over-year to 87.3 percent.
The table below summarizes May and year-to-date statistics compared to the respective prior-year periods.
SYSTEM-WIDE OPERATIONS1
MAY
2019
2018
% CHANGE
PAX
1,006,639
1,011,175
(0.4%)
RPMs (000)
1,529,088
1,445,663
5.8%
ASMs (000)
1,752,268
1,683,228
4.1%
LF
87.3%
85.9%
1.4 pts
YEAR-TO-DATE
2019
2018
% CHANGE
PAX
4,776,711
4,864,128
(1.8%)
RPMS (000)
7,095,143
6,863,068
3.4%
ASMS (000)
8,296,158
8,042,653
3.2%
LF
85.5%
85.3%
0.2 pts
PAX
Passengers transported
RPM
Revenue Passenger Mile; one paying passenger transported one mile
ASM
Available Seat Mile; one seat transported one mile
LF
Load Factor; percentage of seating capacity filled
1Includes the operations of contract carriers under capacity purchase agreements.
About Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian® has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of the past 15 years (2004-2018) as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Consumer surveys by Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and TripAdvisor have placed Hawaiian among the top of all domestic airlines serving Hawai'i.
Now in its 90th year of continuous service, Hawaiian is Hawai'i's biggest and longest-serving airline. Hawaiian offers non-stop service to Hawai'i from more U.S. gateway cities (13) than any other airline, along with service from Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa and Tahiti. Hawaiian also provides, on average, more than 170 jet flights daily between the Hawaiian Islands, and over 260 daily flights system-wide.
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). For career postings and updates, follow Hawaiian's LinkedIn page.
For media inquiries, please visit Hawaiian Airlines' online newsroom.
HONOLULU – Hawaiian Airlines, the most punctual U.S. airline for 15 straight years, is equipping pilots with new tablet technology that enhances real-time aircraft and weather data delivered to the cockpit to advance the carrier’s industry-leading operational record.
Hawaiian last month became the first U.S. airline to adopt the Pacelab Flight Profile Optimizer (FPO), a cutting-edge application by Berlin-based software provider PACE that uses satellite communication to continuously inform flight crews about winds, projected turbulence and aircraft performance. Hawaiian’s Airbus A330 aircraft pilots can access updated information on their tablets throughout the flight to make any needed adjustments to chart the quickest, most comfortable and fuel-efficient trajectory from take-off to landing.
Hawaiian Airlines Captain Brian Beres, left, holds a tablet featuring the Pacelab Flight Profile Optimizer dashboard while preparing for a departure in the cockpit of an Airbus A330 aircraft.
Last year, Hawaiian lowered jet fuel burn by seven million gallons, enough to power 14,300 vehicles for one year, amid a fleet modernization and expanded efficiency initiatives. The airline estimates Pacelab FPO will reduce annual fuel consumption by an additional one percent – approximately 1.3 million gallons – and prevent more than 12,000 pounds of carbon emissions from entering the atmosphere.
Pilots who operate Hawaiian’s 24-aircraft wide-body A330 fleet are utilizing Pacelab FPO on the airline’s network of non-stop flights connecting Hawai‘i to Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Tahiti, American Samoa, and the U.S. mainland. Hawaiian intends to make the software available aboard its mid-haul Airbus A321neo narrow-body fleet that will grow from 13 to 18 aircraft by early next year as the carrier increases service between U.S. West Coast cities and the Hawaiian Islands.
A data visualization example of a Pacelab Flight Profile Optimizer.
“Pacelab FPO has been instrumental in helping determine the safest, most comfortable and efficient route on every flight,” said Capt. Brian Beres, senior director for flight standards and qualifications at Hawaiian Airlines. “Having previously removed heavy paper manuals and charts, Hawaiian is further increasing the utility of our Electronic Flight Bag tablets by providing real time decision support tools to allow pilots to optimize all phases of the flight. This means guests arrive on our islands well rested and on time to begin their vacation, while we further reduce our environmental footprint.”
“We’re delighted to welcome Hawaiian to the Pacelab community,” said Oliver Spaeth, director of sales at PACE. “We collaborated very closely on demonstrating the savings potential during the onboard software trial, which went really smoothly despite the 12-hour time difference between Hawaiian’s headquarters, pilots and our operational efficiency experts in Germany.”
Pacelab FPO continuously performs a holistic optimization for the remaining route to the destination and provides flight crews with actionable data to maximize operational efficiency, flight punctuality and passenger comfort given current flight conditions. The optimization uses real-time avionics data and meteorological information, while respecting scheduled in-block times and a wide range of other airline-specific constraints.
About Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian® has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of the past 15 years (2004-2018) as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Consumer surveys by Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and TripAdvisor have placed Hawaiian among the top of all domestic airlines serving Hawai‘i.
Now in its 90th year of continuous service, Hawaiian is Hawai‘i’s biggest and longest-serving airline. Hawaiian offers non-stop service to Hawai‘i from more U.S. gateway cities (13) than any other airline, along with service from Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa and Tahiti. Hawaiian also provides, on average, more than 170 jet flights daily between the Hawaiian Islands, and over 260 daily flights system-wide.
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). For career postings and updates, follow Hawaiian’s LinkedIn page.
For media inquiries, please visit Hawaiian Airlines’ online newsroom.
About PACE – a TXT company
Founded in Berlin in 1995, PACE has built a reputation for developing trail-blazing software products for the global aerospace and aviation industry. As part of TXT e-solutions, the company focuses on high-quality niches such as preliminary design & evaluation, on-board software, digital manufacturing, product configuration, flight operations and training & simulation.
TXT e-solutions is an international, specialized provider of advanced software solutions supporting customers in high-tech markets, most notably in the aerospace, aviation and automotive industries, in their mission- and business-critical core processes and throughout their product lifecycles.
Headquartered in Milan, TXT is listed on the Italian Stock Exchange and has subsidiaries in Italy, Germany, France, Switzerland, the UK and the US.
Mary Ann Singleton’s journey through 1970s San Francisco was deliciously specific — starting with her three Irish coffees at the storied Buena Vista Café and her introduction to the produce-aisle pick-up scene at the Marina Safeway. For more than 40 years, author Armistead Maupin has invited readers of his “Tales of the City” newspaper serial and subsequent novels to walk with Mary Ann and the other residents of 28 Barbary Lane as they explored the beauty and eccentricities of San Francisco — and discovered themselves and a diverse community along the way.
“When I was writing, I simply tried to stay in the moment, knowing that it would be an interesting history of the city if I was faithful to that,” Maupin told the Alaska Airlines Blog in a recent phone interview.
This summer, the journey continues in the new “Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City” series starting June 7 on Netflix. And Alaska Airlines guests have an additional opportunity to explore the author’s personal story through “The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin,” a documentary by director Jennifer M. Kroot available for free inflight viewing through June and July.
As part of Alaska’s sponsorship of Pride 2019 celebrations, the inflight entertainment features 18 films from the LGBTQ+ media-arts nonprofit Frameline – including Kroot’s 2014 documentary on the “Star Trek” legend-turned-political activist George Takei, “To Be Takei.” Alaska also is sponsoring Frameline43, The San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival running June 20-30.
The author and the filmmaker spoke with us at the end of May about the new series, the “Untold Tales” documentary — and shared some of the places they love in San Francisco.
Maupin writing in the San Francisco Chronicle newsroom in the 1970s. (Courtesy of “The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin.”)
These stories now span nine books and more than four decades. How do they resonate with readers today?
Armistead Maupin: They’re about young people who are looking for a home in a city, and looking for love. There was something called “Mona’s Law”: You can have a hot job, a hot apartment and a hot lover — but you can’t have all three at the same time. This was about the frustrations and joys of being young in a new place, and that is universal.
Jennifer Kroot: There are some new San Franciscans who confide to me that they moved here recently because someone lent them one of the early “Tales of the City” books and it meant something to them. Sometimes they’re gay people, sometimes they’re not. But they love the spirit of the book and they wanted to find that feeling.
Laura Linney and Olympia Dukakis in the new series coming to Netflix June 7. (Courtesy of Netflix)
The Netflix series brings back Laura Linney and Olympia Dukakis in roles they originated in the first miniseries that aired in 1994 on PBS — and Ellen Page joins the cast as Mary Ann’s grown daughter. What are some themes explored in the new series?
AM: This show particularly encourages the notion of intergenerational communication. There are young gay men who are talking to older gay men who remember the horrors of the AIDS epidemic, and there’s an older trans character talking to a young trans man about her experience and advising him on his. All of it’s about talking to each other. We need to do that more than ever.
My youngsters from the earlier miniseries are now the elders. The story is not just concerned with the young; it’s also concerned with their relationship with older people. And they’re all looking for love in one way or another. There are lots of surprises. I love that they reveal themselves at their own speed.
Charlie Barnett and Murray Bartlett in the new series. (Courtesy of Netflix)
What are some of the important places in San Francisco for you and for the characters?
AM: I was always in love with Russian Hill. That’s why Barbary Lane was set there and it made sense to go back there in Jennifer’s documentary. We had the most serendipitous thing happen: A flock of wild parrots landed in the lane as we were there with the cameras. We didn’t stage that scene in the doc. They were just there. And that’s one of the wonders of San Francisco — that this kind of beauty can happen at any time.
“Tales of the City” was sort of a scrapbook of places I loved. Caffe Sport, which is still there, is a wonderful old kitschy, artifact-laden Italian tavern in North Beach and an experience I still enjoy. I had Mona and Mrs. Madrigal have dinner there one night before they went to see “Beach Blanket Babylon,” which is on the verge of closing.
Ellen Page and Zosia Mamet in the new series. (Courtesy of Netflix)
JK: Russian Hill is an area where, in the ‘70s, there were society people but regular people could live there, too. We don’t really have that much anymore. San Francisco is really expensive everywhere now.
The stories show the characters’ discovery of their “logical family” — the circle of people who celebrate them for who they are. (“Logical Family” is also the title of Maupin’s recent memoir.) What advice do you have for people searching for their own logical family?
AM: That is really the theme of all of my work. I found great relief in discovering that I could form my own family and not have to deal with the strictures of the biological family. I came from a very conservative, rigid, ancestor-worshipping family from the South that only cared about the Civil War. And when I found that I could replace that with art and theater and interesting people, it was a delight. I tell people that if you need to change your life, do. It’s crazy to suffer at the hands of people who don’t accept you for who you are. That’s not just applicable to queer folks. It’s anybody who’s in an oppressive situation. If you realize that you’re the architect of your own life, you can make so much joy for yourself and for others by being true to who you are.
The actor George Takei in the documentary “To Be Takei.” (Courtesy of “To Be Takei”)
Jennifer, you have two documentaries showing on Alaska Airlines: “The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin” and “To Be Takei.” What drew you to these stories?
JK: And I have a third documentary prior to those, “It Came From Kuchar,” about the Kuchar brothers, gay twins who were underground filmmakers. We call it the “Gay Geezer Trilogy” — and I have to give Armistead credit for coining that.
For these two, it was really fun to connect the dots. In George Takei’s case: How do you go from being imprisoned by the United States government at age 5 because you’re Japanese American and we’re at war with the Japanese, and then becoming a science fiction hero, and then coming out around age 68? With Armistead, how could you grow up with a tyrannical right-wing father and desperately want to please him — but inside you know that isn’t who you are. The bravery that takes is really hard. How do you become this open voice that has reached so many people about not only his homosexuality, but also his progressive spirit? I find it very inspiring.
Maupin and his husband, Christopher Turner, walk through the Castro neighborhood in San Francisco. (Courtesy of “The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin”)
Are there more stories about the “Tales of the City” characters coming in the future?
AM: I just signed a contract for a new “Tales”-themed novel. It’s not a continuation, but a deep dive into the middle of the story. I’m going to write about Mona Ramsey at the manor house she moved into at the end of “Babycakes.” A lot of people have complained that I left her there and never explained what that was like, and so I’ll be writing a book called “Mona of the Manor.”
Armistead, you and your husband recently moved to London. Was it hard to leave San Francisco?
AM: This is another city I’m enchanted with, and my husband is as well. Frankly, I wanted a new adventure late in life. If you’re lucky enough to be with somebody who wants to take on something new, it becomes a grand adventure.
At Alaska, our pride flies nonstop:
As longtime supporters of the LGBTQ+ community, we at Alaska remain committed to a building a more equitable society. We’re showing our #MostWestCoast love by continuing our partnerships with seven West Coast Pride events in 2019, and by offering a 10% discount on flights for a limited time to select California destinations. Look for Alaska employees marching in seven Pride parades this year. Learn more.
Our newest destination from Paine Field? Think poolside in the desert
Not long after we started flying from Paine Field in early March, the requests from our guests began pouring in: Please add Palm Springs. The pull of desert sun and warmth is strong. (We understand.)
So your West Coast airline is making it happen. Starting Nov. 5, you’ll be able to fly nonstop with us between Everett and Palm Springs every day of the week – just in time for the Coachella Valley’s popular winter travel season. You can buy your Alaska Airlines tickets now for our ninth destination from Paine Field.
Effective Date
City Pair
Departs
Arrives
Frequency
Aircraft
Nov. 5, 2019
Everett-Palm Springs
12:20 p.m.
3:05 p.m.
Daily
E175
Nov. 5, 2019
Palm Springs-Everett
3:55 p.m.
6:45 p.m.
Daily
E175
“Hands down, Palm Springs was number one on our guests’ wish list for the next destination from Paine Field,” said Noelle Fredrickson, general manager of network planning and strategy for Alaska Airlines. “After three months of flying at Everett, we thought this was a good time to make adjustments to improve the flying experiences for our guests. And hopefully make some people really happy.”
The start of service at Paine Field overall is a big hit – from the ease of getting to the airport, to the luxurious comfort of the new terminal, to the quick boarding process. As of late May, more than 160,000 passengers have flown with us at Paine Field.
Appreciating the popularity of desert destinations, we’re also excited to add a second roundtrip between Everett and Phoenix starting Aug. 26. Tickets for that new flight can be purchased right now.
Other changes are on the horizon, too. To make travel more convenient and efficient for our guests, we’re adjusting the number of flights between Everett and both Portland and Los Angeles.
“We’re optimizing our flight schedule to improve our operations,” said Fredrickson. “By flying three roundtrips a day instead of four to Portland and L.A., we can better provide the key flight times preferred by our business travelers, and allow for better connection windows.”
The adjustment enables us to add the new roundtrips to Palm Springs and Phoenix, while staying within our limit of 18 daily departures at Paine Field.
Alaska Airlines’ service out of Paine Field has been a big hit since it started in March 2019. (Photo by Ingrid Barrentine)
All Alaska flights at Paine Field are operated by Horizon Air with jet service using the Embraer 175 aircraft, which features a three-class cabin. From Paine Field, guests can currently fly to eight destinations: Las Vegas; Los Angeles; Orange County, California; Phoenix; Portland, Oregon; San Diego; San Francisco; and San Jose, California.
Don’t forget: From our gateway airports on the West Coast – such as Los Angeles and San Francisco – guests can connect with our Global Partners to fly to more than 900 destinations around the globe. Flyers can also earn and redeem miles with Alaska’s highly-acclaimed Mileage Plan program.
U.S. East Coast Artist Maika‘i Tubbs has claimed his creative fame with impactful montages pieced together using every-day trash. One of his newest installations was recently featured at ARTafterDARK, a monthly* evening art party at the Honolulu Museum of Art (HoMA) sponsored by Hawaiian Airlines Bank of Hawaii World Elite Mastercard®. Earth Day led the event theme this April, with Tubbs’ piece featured as the centerpiece of the installation.
His exhibition, called AMEND, was created with used plastic bags as a tribute to Honolulu’ recent plastic bag ban and Hawaii’s movement to eradicate plastic bags. From a spectator’s standpoint, the recycled plastic monster takes a life of its own as a tentacled creature bursting through a courtyards’ water fountain. It surfaces from its aquatic home with an important call-to-action: be mindful consumers.
The artist featured with his installation at HoMA’s April ARTafterDARK party.
Tubbs, an O‘ahu native who moved to Brooklyn, New York several years ago to attend art school, has used his creative mindset to give waste a new purpose and transform it into intricate sculptures and installations. He is an artist with an environmental agenda, leveraging his platform to spark conversations about plastic use and pollution.
“It means a lot to have a sponsor that backs your mission,” said Tubbs. “My entire art practice revolves around working with things that people consider garbage… and it’s really nice to have a sponsor that backs a garbage artist!”
The Hawaiian Airlines Financial and Retail Partnerships team with artist Maika‘i Tubbs.
In addition to sponsoring Tubbs’s piece, Hawaiian and HoMA hosted an evening focused on sustainability. Attendees strung lei with recycled paper, sipped on earthy cocktails crafted by ‘Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach and received samples of reef-safe sunscreen by Raw Elements USA.
Did you stop by the Hawaiian Airlines table at April’s art party? Those feeling extra lucky could enter for a chance to win 80,000 HawaiianMiles!
ARTafterDARK is one of Honolulu’s most popular evening events and attracts more than 1,200 of the city’s trend-setting art enthusiasts. Throughout the year, attendees can expect to see more eclectic exhibitions that echo important stories and messages relating to our island home.
*January to October only
The Hawaiian Airlines Bank of Hawaii World Elite Mastercard® is issued by Barclays Bank Delaware (Barclays) pursuant to a license by Mastercard International Incorporated. Mastercard and World Elite Mastercard are registered trademarks, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.
In the early 1980s, a 23-year-old pilot named Mike Baumgartner started calling on Alaska Airlines. He knew he wanted to fly for a living, and he was becoming increasingly more convinced that Alaska Airlines was where he wanted to plant his stake. He grew up in Bellevue, Washington, had gotten his pilot training as a teenager, and had already spent a lot of time in The Great Land, flying fish from Dry Bay, Alaska, to Yakutat in DC-3s.
So, Mike bought a new suit, shaved and walked into the Alaska Airlines corporate office, located near Sea-Tac International Airport. He introduced himself to the nice lady at the front desk (Jan May, a legend in her own right). He didn’t have quite enough experience at the time, but he kept at it. Every time he earned a new rating, he put the suit on again and dropped off another resume. He and Jan came to know each other, and she looked out for him. Finally, the day for an interview came, and she ushered him through the door and, wishing him luck, said, “It’s up to you, kid.”
As Mike recalls, he was really nervous, and essentially failed the interview. Only after the hiring manager stood up to dismiss him did Mike relax and start telling his interviewer who this young pilot really was. They ended up talking for another hour and a half, and Mike got the job. That was February 6, 1984.
Pilot Mike Baumgartner on the flight deck in 1985, a year after he started working for Alaska. (Photo courtesy Mike Baumgartner)
Why all this background? On April 30, Mike and 14 other employees were inducted into Alaska’s Hall of Fame, a group we call our “Customer Service Legends.” To be as direct as possible, most of us believe that the only reason Alaska is still here and still prospering today is because of the extraordinary service that our people provide. For so many of our folks, life—and work—is all about connecting with other people and lifting them up. It’s so simple to say, but such a powerful human experience.
I have so many stories I’d like to tell you about Mike. He is a pilot’s pilot. He flies a lot. He loves aviation. He loves you, our customers. And he loves his fellow employees. He’s one of very few people I know who, when he’s getting ready to hang up the phone, will say—“Hey, Brad, you know I love you.” This is how Mike lives his life. He says, “Alaska has been my family for 35 years, and I do love these people.” As I write this, I’m honestly humbled that we have a guy like this working here.
“I tell new people I fly with, ‘This is your airline. This is all of ours to take care of.’ ”
Mike has flown a ton over his career, but has also made his voice and his leadership count to help us move our culture forward. He’s facilitated employee workshops; he’s volunteered at Aviation Days and countless other activities; and he’s been an ambassador for our airline with investors in New York City and beyond. His smile says it all.
CEO Brad Tilden and Mike Baumgartner at the New York Stock Exchange.
Alaska is fortunate to have so many people who, just by their sheer strength and determination, have lifted the company to greater and greater heights. With our Legend award, we recognize the best of the best. In addition to Mike, there are great people who work in all divisions of the company and in locations ranging from Anchorage to San Diego. Fewer than one-quarter of 1% of our employees are recognized with this honor. They truly are the best of the best.
I sat down with Mike on the day of our Legends celebration and asked him how he felt as he nears the twilight of his career; he’ll reach the mandatory pilot retirement age of 65 in just three and a half years. He said, “I love this place. Alaska is our airline to take care of. I tell new people I fly with, ‘This is your airline. This is all of ours to take care of.’ ”
Thank you, Mike. You’ve taken good care of us. And thank you to your fellow 2019 Legends for giving this place your all. The sky’s the limit with people like you.
Also, thanks to you, our guests, for flying with us today, and thank you for reading about Mike and our other extraordinary Legends.
This column also appears in the June 2019 issue of Alaska Beyond Magazine.
At Alaska Airlines, honoring the fallen and their families
For the families of the fallen, the cart with American flag curtains and the insignia of the five branches of the military — the most visible part of Alaska Airlines’ Fallen Soldier Program — means their loved ones will be surrounded with respect and honor from those who accompany them on their final journey.
When a flag-draped coffin is carried off a plane and placed on the cart, the flight, maintenance and baggage crew members stand at attention on the tarmac — a powerful sight for a grieving family, says Julia Schmidtke, an Alaska flight attendant. Her 25-year-old son, Hunter Schmidtke, died in 2018 while serving at Fort Riley, Kansas: “It was amazing and meant so much to see all the working groups come together,” she says.
The 11th cart was delivered to Fairbanks in July 2019.
The experience was so important to Schmidtke that she became a program volunteer – and she was in Phoenix when the tenth Fallen Soldier cart was delivered to Sky Harbor International Airport in May. “It’s important to know what a Gold Star mom looks like,” she says.
Alaska employees delivered the 11th cart in the program to Fairbanks International Airport in time to be of service just before the Fourth of July. The carts are crafted by a team of Alaska’s Maintenance and Engineering department and are stationed at airports around the country. They’re available to honor members and veterans of all branches of the military.
Alaska’s Fallen Soldier Program employee training now includes this video shared by the Schmidtke family. In addition to photos from Hunter Schmidtke’s life, it shows the “Honoring Those Who Serve” plane that carried their son to Sea-Tac.
The interior of the Fairbanks cart is customized with a metal crafting of the Alaska state flag. The cart’s sections were flown from Seattle to Anchorage, where the cart was assembled and then escorted to Fairbanks by the Patriot Guard Riders and police.
In addition to Fairbanks and Phoenix, Alaska Airlines has dedicated carts in Anchorage, Seattle, Portland, San Diego, Los Angeles, Honolulu, Washington, D.C., Dallas and San Francisco. While the carts remain under Alaska’s care at each airport, they are available for any airline to use when transporting remains.
When the Fallen Soldier cart was delivered in Phoenix in May 2019, a custom “Honoring Those Who Serve” tug was given to the team to bring back to Seattle. On the tug: James Rea, Alaska lead line avionics technician; and driving the tug, Joe Burdolski, designer of the tug and a resident of Chandler, Arizona. The tug is now at Sea-Tac, where it is used with the Fallen Soldier cart. (Photo by Tim Thompson)
Brian Bowden, a line aircraft technician and Air Force veteran, helped start the Fallen Soldiers Program in 2011. In addition to creating the carts, the program established protocols for employees to follow when a service member’s body is traveling. Bowden notes that program volunteers include veterans and non-veterans. “We all wanted to take care of those who take care of us,” he says. “Freedom isn’t free. It comes at a price.”
“We are just trying to have soldiers’ backs and provide them with this service on their final journey home, so their loved ones know that people cared about what they did,” Bowden says. “You can never take away their pain, but you can show you care.”
As she volunteers with the program, Shmidtke often talks — and listens — to fallen soldiers’ families as they’re taking their loved ones home. “I think it provides some comfort to have someone sit with them who’s been through what they’re going through,” she says. And volunteering has helped her, as well: “It’s been a real healing experience for myself, and I’m so glad I opened myself up to it.”
The KING 5 News team in Seattle also recently produced this story on the Fallen Soldier Program:
In 2016, Alaska created a plane livery called “Honoring Those Who Serve” dedicated to the men and women currently serving in the military as well as veterans and their families. A crest, to the right of the cargo door, represents our Fallen Soldier Program. The plane is used to transport fallen soldiers flying on Alaska Airlines, as well as for special flights, like our Honor Flights, to help veterans visit memorials in D.C.
Schmidtke’s son’s body was flown from Kansas to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on one of the planes. “To have him brought home on the honor plane was a really big deal,” she says.
This year, Alaska launched its second plane in the livery, allowing the airline to serve new stations including Hawaii and Reagan National International, increasing the reach of the Fallen Solider Program.
Fallen Soldier Program through the years
At the Seattle Hangar, John Van Dyke attaches plaques representing the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard.Jim Rea installs red carpet inside the cart.At the Seattle Hangar, Alaska Airlines maintenance technician John Van Dyke helps customize a cart that will be used to carry the remains of fallen service members at Los Angeles International Airport.Patriot Guard Riders escorted the cart from Seattle to Los Angeles.Patriot Guard Riders stand at attention in L.A.A cart was delivered to San Francisco International Airport in May 2018.Patriot Guard Riders escort the cart to SFO in May 2018.
Celebrating 15 Years of Nonstop Service Down Under
Our Hawaiian Airlines ‘ohana threw on our best party hats for our latest company milestone: 15 wonderful years of nonstop service between Sydney and Honolulu. We blew the birthday candles last Friday, marking 15 years to the day since we introduced our warm Hawaiian hospitality in the land down under.
Hawaiian Airlines has a longstanding commitment to Australia. One example? Helping launch ‘The Hawaiian Airlines Sydney Harbour Outrigger Challenge’ – an endurance race in Sydney Harbour. This photo celebrates our employee volunteers who paddled at the event in 2015.
“We’ve had an incredible legacy as Hawai‘i’s largest and longest-serving airline,” said Andrew Stanbury, Hawaiian’s regional director for Australia and New Zealand, noting the carrier is also celebrating 90 years of continuous operations. “On behalf of our entire ‘ohana, I would like to say mahalo to our hardworking team and loyal guests for growing Hawaiian Airlines into a popular household name in Sydney and throughout Australia.”
On May 17, we welcomed guests boarding flight HA452 at Sydney Airport (SYD) with birthday cupcakes, fresh flower lei and strummed our ukuleles for a gate-side hula performance.
As part of the gate-side celebration, we gifted two complimentary upgrades to Extra Comfort. Pictured L to R: Andrew Stanbury, regional director for Australia and New Zealand, our Extra Comfort winners, Lee Anne Drummond, manager of operations at SYD, and Karen MacMillan, director of Australia sales and partnerships.
“Since 2004, we’ve provided our Aussie guests with award-winning, authentic Hawaiian hospitality and today, it’s our honor to serve you during this special time,” Brian Worth, senior director of airport operations at Hawaiian Airlines, told guests waiting to board.
Our flight attendants celebrating at the gate in SYD prior to boarding HA452.
We kept the celebration going into the following Monday at a special luncheon hosted by our extended Sydney sales ‘ohana at the city’s new waterfront precinct of Barangaroo. Over a table full of island-inspired food and drinks, and some favorite local music in the background (think Keauhou, Anuhea, Kolohe Kai and Kimie Miner), we celebrated the route’s success and offered a special mahalo to our travel partners for their contributions.
Stanbury recognized our deep roots in the islands and in Australia, sharing the following insights:
Over 1.71 million travelers have flown between SYD and HNL on Hawaiian Airlines since we launched service in 2004;
In the past five years (2014-2019), one in four guests departing from Australia (Sydney and Brisbane combined) on Hawaiian Airlines continue their travel on our flights to the U.S. Mainland, and five percent of this group took advantage of a multi-day stopover in Honolulu at some point of their travel;
Our aussie guests' favorite Neighbor Island connections from SYD include Kahului on Maui, Kona on the Island of Hawai‘i, and Līhu‘e on Kaua‘i; and
Their top U.S. Mainland connections offered by Hawaiian’s network include Los Angeles (LAX), New York City (JFK), and Las Vegas (LAS).
The crowd favorite: the integration of the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, an ultra-fuel-efficient aircraft being equipped with top-of-the-line seat technology, into Hawaiian’s fleet starting in 2021.
The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
“We are currently evaluating exactly where these planes will fly, though we do highly anticipate the Boeing 787-9 to service Oceania,” Stanbury said.
“Adding the Boeing 787-9 to our existing Airbus A330 fleet of long-haul aircraft will open opportunities to launch new service. It’s too early to announce potential new routes, but we are excited about the prospect of increasing our network, and Oceania will certainly be part of our planning.”
Learn more about our nonstop service between Honolulu and Sydney or book your next trip down under by clicking here.
View original content to download multimedia:
The start of service at Paine Field overall is a big hit – from the ease of getting to the airport, to the luxurious comfort of the new terminal, to the quick boarding process. As of late May, more than 160,000 passengers have flown with us at Paine Field.
