Page 44 - Globale Traveler

CUSTOMER viewing, passengers were some of the first to experience totality. Before the 2016 acquisition of Virgin America, Alaska Airlines
COMFORT: Alaska Airlines also partnered with several leading wine maintained an all-Boeing 737 operational fleet built in the Seattle
(Left to right) destinations covering areas in Oregon, Idaho, Washington state metropolitan area. The fleet comprised 156 Boeing 737 aircraft
Premium Class, and
cabin experience and California. The deal allows up to a case of wine to fly free, with an average age of 8.7 years.
provided it’s packed for shipping. Horizon Air and contractor SkyWest Airlines also fall under
PHOTOS: © ALASKA Then there’s the early boarding for sports fans in Seattle, the the Alaska Air Group umbrella, maintaining a regional opera-
AIRLINES
hometown of Alaska Airlines. Currently, the airline allows early tional fleet of 52 Bombardier Q400 aircraft and 10 Embraer
boarding for anyone wearing a Russell Wilson jersey. Certain E175 aircraft. In 2016 the group announced a purchase of 30
conditions apply: Passengers must fly from Seattle and must be Embraer E175 aircraft, with delivery of seven as of summer
Seahawks fans sporting the quarterback’s jersey. 2017.
“We’ve also been investing in our onboard product, incorpo- Alaska-owned Virgin America added a combined total of
rating some of the things people love most of Virgin America 65 leased Airbus A320s to the operational fleet, with most leases
onto Alaska Airlines’ fleet, including mood lighting and music,” running through 2021. Alaska Airlines expects to merge these
says CEO Tilden. “And we’re doing the same thing on the Virgin planes into its fleet sometime in 2019, when the airline anticipates
America fleet, just last month rolling out free movies and Free the FAA will grant it a single operating certificate. With the pur-
Chat on Virgin America flights, like we’ve had at Alaska Airlines chase of Virgin America, Alaska Air Group now boasts 20,000
since January. We also just announced our plan to install satellite employees and 280 aircraft.
WiFi across the entire mainline fleet.” According to CEO Tilden, “We’re making great progress

44 globaltravelerusa.com FEBRUARY 2018