Alaska Air Group, Inc. (Alaska), through its subsidiaries, operates airlines. The company operates three airlines, Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and Horizon Air. The company also includes McGee Air Services, an aviation services provider that was established as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alaska, and other subsidiaries. Alaska, Hawaiian, and Horizon operate as separate airlines.
Segments
The company operates through three segments, Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and Regional.
Alas...
Alaska Air Group, Inc. (Alaska), through its subsidiaries, operates airlines. The company operates three airlines, Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and Horizon Air. The company also includes McGee Air Services, an aviation services provider that was established as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alaska, and other subsidiaries. Alaska, Hawaiian, and Horizon operate as separate airlines.
Segments
The company operates through three segments, Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and Regional.
Alaska Airlines - includes scheduled air transportation on Alaska's Boeing 737 (B737) aircraft for passengers and cargo from the western United States (U.S.) throughout North America, Mexico, Costa Rica, Belize, the Bahamas, and Guatemala.
Hawaiian Airlines - includes scheduled air transportation on Hawaiian's Boeing 787-9 (B787-9), Boeing 717-200 (B717-200), Airbus A330-200 (A330-200), Airbus A321neo, and Airbus A330-300F (A330-300F) aircraft for passengers and cargo between the Hawaiian Islands (the Neighbor Island routes), as well as between Hawai'i and the continental U.S., parts of Asia, the South Pacific, Australia, and New Zealand.
Regional - includes Horizon's and other third-party carriers’ scheduled air transportation on E175 aircraft for passengers under CPAs. This segment includes the actual revenue and expenses associated with regional flying, as well as an allocation of corporate overhead incurred by Air Group on behalf of the regional operations.
The company provides air transportation in the United States, offering unparalleled guest service, connectivity, and schedules from its hub markets along the West Coast and in Hawai'i. With its regional partners, the company flies to more than 140 destinations throughout North America, Central America, Asia, and across the Pacific. Alaska is a member of the oneworld alliance. With oneworld and other global partners, Alaska's guests have access to more than 900 destinations in 170 territories.
Air Group
The company’s airlines operate different aircraft, which serve different missions.
Alaska Airlines
The company’s Alaska Airlines offers passenger service on B737 aircraft from the western U.S. throughout North America, Mexico, Costa Rica, Belize, the Bahamas, and Guatemala. Alaska's largest concentrations of departures are from its hubs in Anchorage, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego.
Hawaiian Airlines
The company’s Hawaiian Airlines offers passenger service on B787-9, A330-200, A321neo, and B717 aircraft between the Hawaiian Islands, as well as between Hawai'i and the continental U.S., parts of Asia, the South Pacific, Australia, and New Zealand. Hawaiian's largest concentration of departures is from Honolulu.
Regional
The company’s Regional operations include passenger service on E175 aircraft operated by Horizon and SkyWest under CPAs with Alaska, primarily in the states of Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska, and Idaho. Horizon is the largest regional airline in the Pacific Northwest and carried approximately 52% of Air Group's Regional passengers.
Cargo And Other Revenue
The company provides freight and mail services (cargo) using both freighter aircraft and the bellies of its passenger aircraft. The acquisition of Hawaiian in 2024 expanded Air Group's cargo service and the combined network is expected to improve schedule quality and profitability moving forward.
The company has five dedicated cargo aircraft that operate primarily to and within the state of Alaska. The majority of Alaska's cargo services is provided to commercial businesses and the United States Postal Service. Hawaiian provides cargo services as part of its Air Transportation Services Agreement (ATSA) with Amazon.com, Inc. (Amazon). Under the ATSA, Hawaiian supplies flight crews, performs maintenance and certain administrative functions, and procures aircraft insurance. Additionally, Hawaiian receives a fixed monthly fee per aircraft, a per flight hour fee, and a per flight cycle fee for each flight cycle operated, and is reimbursed for certain operating expenses, including fuel, certain maintenance, and insurance premiums. The ATSA provides for Hawaiian to operate up to ten A330-300F aircraft. As of December 31, 2024, Hawaiian has taken delivery of and is operating six A330-300F aircraft.
The company also earns other revenue for lounge memberships, hotel and car commissions, travel insurance, and certain other immaterial items not intrinsically tied to providing air travel to passengers. Revenue is recognized when these services are rendered and recorded as Cargo and other revenue.
Loyalty Programs
Alaska and Hawaiian maintain separate loyalty programs, each offering members a comprehensive suite of benefits. Air Group anticipates combining the two programs into an integrated program in 2025.
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan members can earn miles by flying on Alaska. Members can redeem miles earned for flights on Alaska and partner airlines, hotel stays and vacation rentals, and car rentals.
For loyalty program members, the program offers multiple tiers of MVP status, including MVP Gold, MVP Gold 75K, and MVP Gold 100K, which can be achieved annually by earning qualifying miles. For those achieving MVP tier status, the program offers benefits, including bonus miles on flown segments, complimentary upgrades, free checked bags, and priority boarding. Members qualifying for higher tiers are offered incremental benefits. As a member of oneworld, Mileage Plan members with tier status are provided reciprocal status and benefits when flying on other oneworld members. Alaska has an agreement with Bank of America N.A which offers Mileage Plan members in the U.S. the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card (Alaska's co-branded credit card).
Alaska Airlines also offers a complimentary loyalty program within Mileage Plan for residents of the state of Alaska. Club 49 offers members two free checked bags, last-minute travel discounts, exclusive weekly fare sales, and discounts on cargo shipments to, from or within the state of Alaska.
Hawaiian Airlines
HawaiianMiles awards miles based on distance, providing generous earning potential on longer haul routes between the U.S. mainland and international cities and Hawai'i. Miles are also earned by flying with one of Hawaiian's partner airlines, by using Hawaiian's co-branded credit card, or through other non-airline partners. Miles awarded do not expire and can accumulate until such time a member chooses to redeem. Members can redeem miles earned for flights on Hawaiian or partner airlines, hotel stays, or for other non-airline partner benefits.
Pualani Gold and Platinum status levels recognize the airline's most loyal members with additional benefits, including priority airport experiences, Premier Club access, seat upgrades, and enhanced baggage allowances.
Hawaiian's agreements with Barclays, Bank of Hawaii, and Mastercard are drivers of program engagement and revenue. The HawaiianMiles program utilizes the Barclays' World Elite Mastercard and the Bank of Hawaii VISA debit card. These products allow members to accumulate more miles between their trips on Hawaiian, provide material cash remuneration, and are critical engagement tools for the airline.
Hawaiian Airlines also offers a complimentary loyalty program within HawaiianMiles for residents of the state of Hawai'i. Huaka'i by Hawaiian offers kama‘aina (Hawai'i residents) members a free checked bag, discounts on Neighbor Island travel, and monthly network-wide discounts.
Agreements with other Airlines
Alaska and Hawaiian have various types of marketing agreements with other airlines. These agreements fall into three categories: loyalty program, codeshare, and interline.
Alaska is a member of the oneworld alliance. Alaska's elite Mileage Plan members receive tier status matching across other member airlines. Depending on tier status, guests can enjoy a variety of privileges, including access to more than 600 international first and business class lounges, fast track through security, priority baggage benefits, priority check-in desks, upgrades, and priority boarding.
Competition
The company’s largest competitor is Delta Air Lines Inc. (Delta).
Ticket Distribution
The company’s tickets are distributed through multiple channels:
Direct to customer: Alaska sells direct at www.alaskaair.com and through the Alaska Airlines app. Hawaiian sells direct at www.hawaiianairlines.com and through the Hawaiian Airlines app. Selling direct is its sales channel. The company prioritizes efforts that drive more business to its websites. It also has reservation call centers where guests can book reservations.
As of December 31, 2024, Alaska and Hawaiian sold tickets through separate Passenger Service Systems (PSS). The airlines are expected to transition to a single PSS in 2026.
Traditional and online travel agencies: Alaska and Hawaiian use travel agencies to sell to guests. Both traditional and online travel agencies typically use Global Distribution Systems to obtain their fare and inventory data from airlines. Bookings made through these agencies result in a fee that is charged to its airlines.
Seasonality
The company’s results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of those for the entire year because its business is subject to seasonal fluctuations. In typical years, its profitability is generally lowest during the first and fourth quarters due principally to fewer departures and passengers. Profitability typically increases in the second and third quarters (year ended December 31, 2024) as a result of vacation travel. Some of the negative impacts of seasonality are offset by travel from the West Coast to leisure destinations and expansion to leisure and business destinations in the mid-continental and eastern U.S.
Regulations
The company is subject to the oversight of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) concerning employee safety and health matters. The OSHA and other federal agencies have been authorized to create and enforce regulations that have an impact on its operations.
Environmental
The company is also subject to various laws and government regulations concerning environmental matters, both domestically and internationally. Domestic regulations that have an impact to its operations include the Airport Noise and Capacity Act of 1990, the Clean Air Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response and Compensation Liability Act, the National Environmental Policy Act (including Environmental Justice), Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act and the Toxic Substances Control Act. Many state and local environmental regulations exceed these federal regulations.
History
Alaska Air Group, Inc. was founded in 1932. The company, a Delaware corporation, was incorporated in 1985.