Alaska Air Group
| File:Alaska Air Group logo.svg Logo of Alaska Air Group | |
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Airline holding company |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Headquarters | SeaTac, Washington , United States |
Area served | United States (Pacific Northwest, Hawaii, California) |
| Products | Passenger and cargo airline services |
Number of employees | 33,941 (2024 (forecast)) |
| Website | www |
Alaska Air Group, Inc. is an airline holding company based in the United States, with its headquarters located in SeaTac, Washington. The group owns the principal carriers Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, as well as the regional airline Horizon Air. Additionally, Alaska Airlines fully controls McGee Air Services, a subsidiary specializing in ground handling operations.
History
Established in 1985 to serve as the holding entity for Alaska Airlines, Alaska Air Group expanded its portfolio by acquiring Horizon Air and Jet America Airlines, the latter of which was integrated into Alaska Airlines by 1987. In 2011, following AMR Corporation's bankruptcy, Alaska Air Group took its place on the Dow Jones Transportation Average index.
The creation of McGee Air Services in 2016 marked the group's entry into ground handling and related support services. That same year, Alaska Air Group purchased Virgin America for about $2.6 billion, elevating it to the position of the fifth-largest airline in the U.S. Both airlines continued to operate under separate brands until 2019, when Virgin America was fully merged into Alaska Airlines and its brand retired.
On December 3, 2023, Alaska Air Group revealed its intention to acquire Hawaiian Airlines in a transaction valued at $1.9 billion while preserving both brands independently. The acquisition successfully cleared antitrust scrutiny by the U.S. Department of Justice in August 2024 and gained approval from the Department of Transportation in September 2024, with the merger finalized shortly thereafter.
This approach of growth through strategic acquisitions has notably expanded Alaska Air Group’s market presence and reinforced its competitive positioning within the U.S. aviation sector.
Business trends
Presented below are key financial and operational statistics for Alaska Air Group (fiscal years ending December 31), illustrating its development and market footprint:
2021 6,176 478 19,375 32.4 73.6 311 2022 9,646 58 22,564 41.5 84.5 311 2023 10,426 235 26,043 44.6 83.7 314 2024 (forecast) 11,735 395 33,941 44.6 83.9 392| Year | Revenue (million US$) |
Net income (million US$) |
Employees (FTE) |
Passengers (millions) |
Load factor (%) |
Aircraft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 3,400 | 122 | 12,223 | 15.5 | 79.3 | 115 |
| 2010 | 3,832 | 251 | 11,696 | 23.3 | 82.4 | 114 |
| 2011 | 4,318 | 245 | 11,840 | 24.8 | 84.5 | 117 |
| 2012 | 4,657 | 316 | 11,955 | 25.9 | 85.9 | 124 |
| 2013 | 5,156 | 508 | 12,163 | 27.4 | 85.6 | 190 |
| 2014 | 5,368 | 605 | 12,739 | 29.3 | 85.1 | 196 |
| 2015 | 5,598 | 848 | 13,858 | 31.9 | 84.1 | 212 |
| 2016 | 5,931 | 814 | 14,760 | 41.9 | 84.1 | 285 |
| 2017 | 7,933 | 1,028 | 23,156 | 44.0 | 84.3 | 304 |
| 2018 | 8,264 | 437 | 21,641 | 45.8 | 83.7 | 330 |
| 2019 | 8,781 | 769 | 22,126 | 46.7 | 84.1 | 332 |
| 2020 | 3,566 | |||||
| 17,596 | 17.9 | 55.2 | 291 | |||
These figures illustrate Alaska Air Group’s rebound after the pandemic alongside consistent increases in revenue generation, passenger volume, and fleet capacity—critical measures reflecting its sustained competitive edge and influence within the airline marketplace.
Headquarters
Alaska Air Group's main office is situated at 19300 International Boulevard in SeaTac, Washington, United States.
In May 2018, Alaska Airlines revealed its intention to construct a 128,000-square-foot workspace near Sea-Tac Airport to accommodate its growing team. This new building, positioned next to the Flight Training Center and opposite the Corporate Headquarters, was planned for completion by early 2020.
Fleet
The fleet under Alaska Air Group encompasses a variety of aircraft operated by its subsidiaries—Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and Horizon Air—featuring models from Airbus, Boeing, and Embraer.
As of September 2024, their total fleet consists of 342 airplanes: Alaska Airlines operates roughly 235 Boeing 737 jets; Hawaiian Airlines maintains around 18 Airbus A321neos, 24 Airbus A330s, 19 Boeing 717s, and 4 Boeing 787 Dreamliners; Horizon Air’s fleet includes about 44 Embraer 175 aircraft. Additionally, regional flights are subcontracted to partners such as SkyWest Airlines, which flies approximately 40 Embraer 175 planes under the Alaska SkyWest brand to support Horizon’s regional operations.
Route network
Alaska Air Group primarily caters to passenger and cargo services within the Pacific Northwest, operating hubs at Seattle–Tacoma, Portland, and Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in Anchorage. After the 2008 shutdown of Aloha Airlines and ATA Airlines, the group expanded its reach into Hawaii and secondary mainland destinations including San Diego and San Jose. The acquisition of Virgin America in 2016 broadened its footprint in California through hubs located in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Most recently, with the 2024 purchase of Hawaiian Airlines, Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport became the group’s second-largest hub, significantly enhancing its market position in Hawaii.
External links
- Articles with short description
- Pages with broken file links
- Alaska Air Group
- 1985 establishments in Washington (state)
- Airline holding companies of the United States
- Airlines based in Alaska
- Companies based in King County, Washington
- Companies in the Dow Jones Transportation Average
- Companies in the S&P 400
- Companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange
- Holding companies established in 1985
- SeaTac, Washington
- American companies established in 1985
- Airlines based in Washington (state)
- 5
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment