Overview
Alaska Airlines is actually the product of a merger of McGee Airlines, a single-plane company, and Star Air Service back in 1934. McGee Airlines was actually established and founded by Linious McGee in 1932. After just two years’ worth of operation, McGee made the wise decision of merging with Star Air Service. Raymond W. Marshall led the operations back then, and it did not take long for the airline to take on the name of Alaska Star Airlines back in 1942. Another two years after that, the airline decided to drop its middle name and officially became known as Alaska Airlines. Today, the airline has over 60 flight destinations with its headquarters based in Seattle-Tacoma, Washington, and with Alaska Air Group as its parent group.
Company Profile
Having a fleet size of approximately 184, Alaska Airlines has the Airbus A320, the Boeing 737-900, 737-800, 737-700, 737-400, 737-400Combi, MD-80, the Bombardier CRJ-700, the Q400, and the Q200 aircraft types. With major hubs at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Portland International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, and Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, Alaska Airlines has the Mileage Plan for its mileage program.
History
Not long after the airline dropped its middle name and officially became Alaska Airlines, the airline introduced its Convair CV-880 back in 1961. The airline’s sister company, Horizon Air, was then founded in 1981. In 1985, the Alaska Air Group was formed and became the holding company for the airline – with the group acquiring Horizon Air as well as Jet America Airlines. At present, the airline has over 13,500 people under its employ.
The Present Fleet
Alaska Airlines may have had Airbus and Bombardier aircraft models. At present, however, all models being flown by the airline are Boeing models. The 28 Boeing 737-400 aircrafts seats 144 passengers each. The 19 Boeing 737-800 aircrafts, on the other hand, can seat 157 passengers each. As for the 12 Boeing 737-900 aircrafts, they can seat 172 passengers each. The retired aircrafts include the Convair 880, the Convair 990, the Lockheed L-100, the Boeing 727-200, the Boeing 727-200C, the McDonnell Douglas MD-82, and the McDonnell Douglas MD-82. In-flight services include meals, entertainment, and internet access.
Codeshare Agreements
Alaska Airlines does not really hold participation in any of the major global airline alliances existing today. However, the airline does have codeshare agreements with a few US airlines. Currently, the airline has codeshare agreements with Delta Airlines, Continental Airlines, American Airlines, Northwest Airlines, PenAir, Era Aviation, and V Australia. A large portion of its codeshares is actually with American Airlines.
