Alaska Airlines Archives - Northwest Public Broadcasting

A Journey Delayed — Sea-Tac airport flights delayed, canceled after 737 MAX 9 grounding

By Lauren Gallup January 10, 2024

Passengers move through lines to check baggage for upcoming Alaska Airlines' flights, while others wait, some for flights delayed, on Tuesday, Jan. 9. (CREDIT: Lauren Gallup / NWPB)

The ticketing counter, bag drop, and agent stations for Alaska Airlines at Sea-Tac International Airport were busy but not crowded late Tuesday morning. Some passengers moved through the lines and onto security, others stood against the wall opposite Alaska's blue and green signs, with their bags sitting closely next to them, scrolling through phones, waiting for a Read More

Retired Alaska Airlines turboprop to get new life as ‘world’s largest’ hydrogen-powered plane

By Tom Banse May 5, 2023

Tom Banse / NW News Network Elected officials and corporate leaders gathered in a Paine Field hangar to celebrate the handover of a retired Alaska Airlines Q400 turboprop, which will be converted to hydrogen-electric propulsion over the next year

Alaska Airlines ceremonially handed over a surplus turboprop airliner on Monday to a company that aims to turn it into the largest hydrogen-powered plane yet to fly.Read More

Fly The Cleaner Skies: Airlines Look To Biofuel Production With Northwest Ties

By Courtney Flatt September 19, 2019

Alaska Airlines has 32 Boeing 737 MAX jets on order. CREDIT: PAUL WEATHERMAN/BOEING

Airlines like Alaska, United and Delta are looking into biofuel production. It’s a trend experts say will keep growing. The Northwest is playing a big role in several experiments airlines are helping fund.Read More

Palouse Region Travelers Could Get Direct Denver Flights With Pullman-Moscow Airport Expansion

By Zachary Garner May 2, 2019

The Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport terminal is shown in Pullman, Wash.,

The Moscow-Pullman airport serving the Idaho-Washington Palouse region offers several daily flights to Seattle through Alaska Airlines. Now, the airport is looking for a $1 million grant to bring in another airline for flights to Denver.Read More

Alaska Air Foresees Minimal Impact From Ongoing Grounding Of Boeing 737 MAX

By Tom Banse April 26, 2019

Executives from Seattle-based Alaska Airlines say they foresee minimal impact from the ongoing grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX model. The airline has 32 Boeing 737 MAX 9 jets on order.Read More

Got Your Ticket To Fly? Hackers May Have Your Alaska Or Delta Miles To Sell On Dark Web

By Tom Banse September 21, 2018

San Francisco airport at night. CREDIT: ANDREW CHOY/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Hackers are using various forms of digital skullduggery to steal frequent flyer miles from customers of Delta, Alaska and other airlines. The thieves then resell the miles on the dark web.Read More

Virgin America Merger With Alaska Air Reaches Logistical Crescendo This Week

By Tom Banse April 23, 2018

One of the diciest points in an airline merger is consolidating computer systems. That moment arrives Tuesday night for Alaska Airlines and its former West Coast rival Virgin America.Read More

Airlines Recruiting Like Crazy To Address Pilot Shortage

By Tom Banse March 7, 2018

In the midst of a pilot shortage, Alaska/Horizon Air deployed more than 30 staffers to the NW Aviation Trade Show in order to interview or answer questions from as many job seekers as possible. CREDIT: TOM BANSE

Last year, Horizon Air was forced to cut back the number of flights to many Northwest cities because it didn’t have enough pilots. The Alaska Air Group subsidiary has stabilized its ranks and is slowly rebuilding service. But an industry-wide pilot shortage continues.Read More

Alaska Airlines Workers To Get $1,000 Bonuses After Tax Cut Trump Signed

By Tom Banse January 8, 2018

Seattle-based Alaska Airlines is following the lead of American Airlines, Southwest and dozens of other large companies in awarding $1,000 bonuses to its workers tied to the recent Republican-led tax cut.Read More