Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines began in 1932 when Linious "Mac" McGee founded McGee Airways in Anchorage, operating a single Stinson single-engine plane. Through a series of mergers and name changes, the airline adopted its current name in 1944. It expanded south along the West Coast during the 1970s and 1980s, and in 2016 acquired Virgin America, significantly boosting its presence in California and at hubs like San Francisco and Los Angeles.

As of 2024, Alaska Airlines is the fifth-largest carrier in North America by scheduled passengers carried. Its primary hub is Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, with additional hubs in Anchorage, Portland, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Honolulu. The airline serves over 100 destinations across the United States, North America, Asia, Oceania, and Europe through its membership in the Oneworld alliance. Its loyalty program, Mileage Plan, is frequently rated as one of the most generous in the industry, offering elite status based on miles flown rather than dollars spent.

The airline's brand identity is built around its Alaskan heritage, reflected in its logo (a stylized Eskimo face) and its marketing emphasis on reliability and friendly service. Alaska Airlines ranked first in J.D. Power's customer satisfaction survey for traditional airlines for twelve consecutive years from 2008 to 2019. In 2024, parent company Alaska Air Group completed the acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, pending regulatory approval, creating a combined carrier with a dominant presence across the Pacific.[edit]