Alaska Airlines is the ninth-largest U.S. airline based on passenger traffic and is the dominant U.S. West Coast air carrier. Headquartered in Seattle, Alaska carries more passengers between the state of Alaska and the Lower 48 than any other airline. During recent years, the airline has expanded significantly to serve more U.S. East Coast, Mexican and Canadian destinations.
Long known for its Alaskan roots, symbolized by the Eskimo painted on the tail of the aircraft, Alaska Airlines offers a friendly and relaxed style of service, one that passengers have come to appreciate as the "Alaska Spirit." The airline also is known for embracing innovative technology to improve the customer experience.
The carrier traces its roots back to 1932, when Linious "Mac" McGee of McGee Airways started flying his three-seat Stinson between Anchorage and Bristol Bay, Alaska. A merger with Star Air Service in 1934 created the largest airline in Alaska, which eventually became Alaska Airlines.
Alaska and its sister carrier, Horizon Air, are owned by Alaska Air Group.
| Type of airline: |
Major, low-fare U.S. carrier |
| Relative size of airline: |
Ninth-largest U.S. carrier |
| Founded: |
1932, in Anchorage, Alaska |
| Headquarters: |
Seattle |
| Corporation type: |
Alaska corporation |
| Ownership: |
Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK) |
| Chairman, President and CEO: |
William S. Ayer |
| Hubs: |
Seattle (main hub); Anchorage, Alaska;
Los Angeles; Portland, Ore. |
| Number of employees: |
10,000 |
| Total destinations: |
59 |
| Average daily flights 2008: |
416 |
| Total departures 2008: |
169,712 |
| Total passengers enplaned 2008: |
16.8 million |
| Average stage (route) length 2008: |
979 miles |
| Total available seat miles (ASMs) 2008: |
24.2 billion |
| Total revenue passenger miles (RPMs) 2008: |
18.7 billion |
| Passenger load factor 2008: |
77.3 % |
Note: Monthly passenger traffic and quarterly financial information
can be found in Archived News Releases.
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