Mobile Edition
Print
Get the Mag
Weekly Updates[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
Seventy-five years ago, this country was in the depths of a devastating economic depression, the Mars candy bar and Zippo lighters were introduced, a first-class stamp cost 3 cents, gasoline was 10 cents a gallon, and the New York Yankees swept the Chicago Cubs to win the World Series.
And it was also the birth of what was later to become a household word in the airline industry. McGee Airways was born in Anchorage.
You know, McGee Airways, which began in 1932 when Linious "Mac" McGee launched a single three-seat Stinson floatplane, flying general charters and U.S. mail.
You don't remember McGee Airways? Sure you do. Only today, it's better known as Alaska Airlines.
"Growth, is probably the biggest aspect of this company that I've seen," said Bill MacKay, Alaska Airlines senior vice president-Alaska, of the company that is marking 75 years of flying service.
"When I first came onboard (more than three decades ago) we had nine aircraft in our fleet and flew to 13 cities. Now, we have 114 planes and we fly internationally. Sometimes, I am staggered by the change."
SPROUTING WINGS
Early last year, Alaska Airlines announced a plan to transition the airline to a fleet of all-Boeing 737 aircraft by the end of 2008. To that end, Alaska is accelerating the retirement of its remaining 20 MD-80 fleet and taking delivery of new Boeing 737-800 aircraft at regular intervals. The airline also anticipated taking delivery of 43 737-800s between last year and 2008. It has firm commitments for 13 aircraft and options for 47 in 2009 and beyond.
"We're the ninth largest (according to size) as far as major U.S. air carriers go," notes MacKay.
"But we have also been pioneers in many areas and are proud of our legacy.
"We are only one of two legacy airlines that have never filed for bankruptcy." (American Airlines is the other carrier.)
Alaska also has one of the youngest fleets in the industry.
PIONEERING SPIRIT
Three years ago, the airline introduced the "Airport of the Future" check-in facility in Anchorage. Based on its success, including cutting the average check-in time in half, Alaska Airlines is implementing this process at a number of airports. One will be up and running at the airlines' hub in Seattle by the end of this year.
"A reason we initiated the process in Anchorage," said MacKay, "was that it nicely coincided with the airport expansion and renovation. What a better place to test it, than at home."
Another milestone for Alaska Airlines was the introduction of Required Navigation Performance (RNP). The technology, first used in the capital city of Juneau, was pioneered in 1995. The first RNP-guided flight was used to allow aircraft to fly safer and more reliable approaches and landings with challenging weather and terrain. Since then, Alaska has launched the technology in other cities to land or take off hundreds of times, when flights otherwise would have been delayed or cancelled due to weather. The technology has been embraced by the FAA and is being used by other airlines around the world.
"We are on the leading edge of technology and it all started here in Alaska," MacKay said.
Alaska Airlines is also an innovator when it comes to customer convenience and flight safety. Twelve years ago, it was the first U.S. airline to book flights and sell tickets over the Internet. And four years later, it became the first airline to offer Web check-in, allowing passengers to check in and print a boarding pass via the Internet. Its mileage plan also is recognized as among the top plans in the industry, named Frequent Flier Program of the Year, three consecutive years.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
"One of our most challenging times, yet maybe our proudest moment as an airline ... came very shortly after Sept. 11, (2001)," recalls MacKay. "When there was so much chaos, and many people depending on us to get them home and back to loved ones, we really did put our best foot forward and brought people back together.
"We didn't have to lay any workers off or make cut backs. Everyone dug in and did their job."
SERVICE WITH A SMILE!
The company, also known as "the big bird with a proud tail," has a deep commitment to serving rural Alaska. Most striking is the image of the Native Alaskan on the tail, which attests to the strong heritage of service to and involvement in Alaska communities.
Alaska Airlines is investing more than $100 million in its cargo operation to serve Alaska. The investment includes four retrofitted 737-400 combi aircraft, one a retrofitted 737-400 all-cargo freighter and significant upgrades in cargo infrastructure.
"It is somewhat a blessing and a curse when you are in both the passenger and cargo business," MacKay said. "We have an absolute commitment to both to maximize service in both areas."
Alaska Airlines and its sister carrier, Horizon Air, serve 92 cities through an expansive network in Alaska, the Lower 48, Canada and Mexico. The airline is launching a permanent, non-stop Seattle to Hawaii flight starting this month and beginning in December, it will start a seasonal, nonstop Anchorage to Hawaii route.
[ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]
Today, the Seattle-based air carrier has a work force of 10,000, including 1,470 pilots and 2,460 flight attendants. Last year it enplaned 17.2 million passengers and served 15,000 cups of coffee daily.
Not bad for a company that when you stop and think about it, all began in 1932 with just a three-seat Stinson, flying between Anchorage and Bristol Bay.
"I truly feel that we, more than probably any other airliner, that our people, top to bottom--from the ramp workers to our administrative officers--are the best in the business," said Mackay. "There are going to be peaks and valleys, as there are in every business, but our long record speaks for itself."
Diamond Moments
1932--McGee Airways (now Alaska Airlines) is launched as Linious "Mac" McGee introduces the company with a three-seat Stinson floatplane.
1944--Alaska Star Airlines incorporates as Alaska Airlines. By 1945, the airline is operating 50 aircraft, covering some 6,000-route miles--all within the Alaska Territory.
1948--With charters operating all over the world, Alaska Airlines is the largest nonscheduled carrier in the world.
1951--Adds scheduled service to the Lower 48, adding Portland-Seattle-Fairbanks-Anchorage route--after years of petitioning for a Seattle-Anchorage route.
1951--DC-4 makes first commercial flight over the North Pole.
1958--Introduces Golden Nugget Service with a DC-6A cargo plane fitted with passenger seats on removable pallets, custom-painted cabin walls, and a small piano in the rear of the airplane. Company Chairman Charles Willis tends bar, and his wife plays the piano. The Gay '90s decor celebrates the state's gold rush heritage; Willis shows that Alaska Airlines will be no ordinary carrier.
1961--First jet enters Alaska Airlines service, flying Seattle-Fairbanks-Anchorage. Seattle billboard trumpets "Four Convair-880 jets daily to Anchorage!" alluding to the four jet engines on its lone jet aircraft.
1965--Receives authority for direct Seattle-Anchorage service, allowing it to compete more effectively against larger airlines, such as Pan Am.
1967--First airline certified to operate 727s on unpaved runways, flying into Sitka, Nome and Unalakleet.
1967--First U.S. airline to operate a commercial jet north of the Arctic Circle.
1970--Capitalizing on the state's Russian heritage, Alaska Airlines begins charter flights to the Russian Far East. "Golden Samovar" theme used throughout the airline to promote tours of Siberia, Central Asia and Moscow.
1972--With the airline in financial straits, a new team, led by Ron Cosgrove and including (the late) Bruce Kennedy, assumes control of Alaska Airlines.
1973--Enjoys first of 19 consecutive years of profitability.
1981--Horizon Air (sister commuter airline) founded by investor group headed by Milt Kuolt, initially serving Seattle, Yakima and Pasco.
1985--Alaska Air Group created as holding company for Alaska Airlines.
1986--Alaska Air Group acquires Horizon Air.
1988--Expands into Mexico with service PuertoVallarta and Mazatlan.
1989--Becomes the nation's first commercial carrier to land a jetliner with passengers dense fog, using Head-up Guidance System that the airline helped develop.
1991--Returns to Russian Far East as the first U.S. airline to operate scheduled flights into Russia from the West Coast; service lasts until 1998, reaching a total of five cities.
1995--Alaska and Horizon blaze Web trail, becoming first U.S. airlines to book and sell tickets online.
1999--Alaska and Horizon are first U.S. airlines to enable passengers to print boarding passes via the Internet.
2004--"Airport of the Future" check-in process unveiled at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport.
2006--10,000 employees, becoming the nation's ninth-largest U.S. carrier with 58 destinations and 178,038 departures and 17.2 million passengers enplaned annually.
2007--Celebrates diamond anniversary, introducing the Starliner 75.
BY BEN GREEN
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
FEED