Alaska Airlines and Paine Field go way back – all the way to the ’40s
UPDATE 1/22/19: We’re postponing our scheduled start of service from Paine Field until March 4, 2019. Our latest post has all the details. ORIGINAL POST 11/8/18: When we announced we’d be flying out of Paine Field Snohomish County Airport in Everett, Washington, we heard your cheers. What you may not realize is how loudly we’re cheering…
CEOs of Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines fly 1929 plane that has historical ties to both companies
Two aviation geeks met up last week to fly an old plane. That usually wouldn’t be noteworthy, except the pilots just happened to be Alaska Airlines CEO Brad Tilden and Hawaiian Airlines CEO Mark Dunkerley. And this exact aircraft – a 1929 Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker, tail number NC251M – has historical ties to both airlines.…
From the archives: How Alaska Airlines evacuated 49,000 Yemenite Jews to Israel ‘on the wings of eagles’
In 1949, the world was continuing to recover from the end of one of the most horrific wars in human history. After the horrors of the Holocaust, Jewish refugees scattered throughout the world were looking to start over in Israel, but the process was not easy. Not only did many groups face logistical challenges, but…
A decade of awesome: 10 ways Alaska and Virgin America continue to shake up the airline industry
Creating an airline people love is a bold goal, but if anyone is up for the challenge, it’s Alaska Airlines and Virgin America. Today, Virgin America was named the “Top Domestic Airline” 2017 in Travel + Leisure “World’s Best Awards” for the 10th year in a row. In May, Alaska Airlines ranked highest in airline…
Havana inaugural isn’t Alaska’s first flight to Cuba
When Alaska Airlines began service to Havana on Jan. 5, it wasn’t the first time the airline had flown to Cuba. In the early 1970s, Alaska flew U.S. Military Airlift Command charter flights to the base at Guantanamo Bay, as well as charters to Caribbean locations such as Jamaica, Puerto Rico and Panama. Some of…
35 years after first flight, Horizon Air still known for service (and free drinks*)
This week, Horizon Air is celebrating the 35th anniversary of its inaugural flight on Sept. 1, 1981. Although Horizon Air and Alaska Airlines remain separately managed to this day, the two companies have been closely linked for nearly 30 years. Both are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group, and all Horizon flights are marketed and sold by…
Buying Boeing planes? How Alaska has done it for 50 years
Irv Bertram (pictured above) has handled the paperwork for Alaska’s aircraft purchases for the past four decades. In the 50 years Alaska Airlines has been buying and flying Boeing planes, acquiring aircraft has never been easier. First, the airline has the cash to buy jets fresh off the assembly line in Renton. Second, Alaska is…
Video: Alaska’s quirky 1980s ads that landed director in Advertising Hall of Fame
Pausing from a TV commercial shoot back in the day is Director Joe Sedelmaier (front, center). Can you guess who was Alaska’s then-CEO in this photo? The unconventional Alaska Airlines TV ads from the 1980s and ’90s got a little fresh air at this year’s American Advertising Hall of Fame ceremony. The commercials were directed…
Destination Detroit: A local’s guide to discovering beauty, history and tasty drinks in the Motor City
This month, Alaska Airlines launched daily nonstop service between Seattle and Detroit. For on-the-ground advice about things to do in Detroit, we turned to resident expert Dan Austin, a journalist at the Detroit Free Press who also runs historicdetroit.org and has written two books about the city’s legendary architecture. “Detroit is a city that is…
Flying in a time capsule to honor veterans
As much as he appreciates the Bombardier Q400’s sophisticated flight deck technology, Horizon Air Captain Rob Sandberg quite enjoys stepping back in time. He can often be found at the controls of World War II fighter aircraft, flying for a worthy cause close to his heart. For the past seven years, the Seattle-based pilot has…
Throwback Thursday: the golden what?
Three-quarters of a century after the cries of “Gold! Gold! In the Klondike!” a quirky little airline with deep roots in the state of Alaska decided to pay its own tribute to the gold rush. Alaska Airlines’ “Golden Nugget Service” era launched in the early 1960s, and passengers would not soon forget it.
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