The end of an era: Alaska retires unique cargo-passenger ‘combi’ planes

After a weeklong fishing trip in Yakutat, Alaska, retired Captain David Olson found himself on one of the last flights of the 737-400 combis – a plane he piloted for two years straight when he first started flying for Alaska Airlines nearly 36 years ago. The unique cargo-passenger aircraft will officially retire Oct. 18. “It’s…

Travel alert: Sonoma County Wildfires

Update: Oct. 12, 2017 at 2:15 p.m. PDT Alaska Airlines has resumed some flights in and out of Charles M. Schultz-Sonoma County Airport. Due to wildfire dangers in the area, the airport had been closed since Monday. Please go to alaskaair.com to check on the latest status of flights through Sonoma County. Update: Oct. 11,…

Travel alert: Hurricane Norma

Both Alaska Airlines and Virgin America are keeping very close watch on Hurricane Norma and its potential impact on flights and airport operations along Mexico’s Baja California peninsula. Based on the current forecast, Hurricane Norma is predicted to make landfall on Sunday and we will be evaluating the impact to the schedule as this weather…

Travel alert: Hurricane Irma

Update: Sept. 12 at 11:30 a.m. PDT Due to the impacts of Hurricane Irma, Alaska Airlines and Virgin America have extended flexible travel policies to airports that were impacted by the storm.

Improved communication between our pilots and ATC – without even talking

For decades, air traffic controllers have relied on a system that uses two-way radio to transmit instructions and route changes to planes waiting to take off. Pilots jot down these notes on paper, and then read the instructions back to the air traffic controllers. If there’s a misunderstanding, the process must be repeated until it’s…

Seattle Air Traffic Control equipment outage at Sea-Tac Airport delays flights

People traveling to and from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport today can expect delays due to low ceilings and a temporary Air Traffic Control equipment outage, which has significantly reduced the hourly rate of planes arriving and taking off at Sea-Tac. Some 90 Alaska Airlines and Virgin America flights scheduled to depart Seattle through noon have been…

Delayed flight? Lack of modernization in the skies might be to blame

Alaska Airlines CEO Brad Tilden testified before the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Aviation earlier this year As airlines head into the busiest travel season of the year, one big worry looms: the nation’s antiquated Air Traffic Control (ATC) system. The ATC system is a critical part of the U.S. economy and air travel infrastructure,…

New flying out of Paine Field will ease commuting pain for many

UPDATE 1/22/19: We’re postponing our scheduled start of service from Paine Field until March 4, 2019. Our latest post has all the details. ORIGINAL POST 5/17/17: For most Seattle-area guests of Alaska Airlines, getting to the airport is relatively painless. But for the more than one million residents of northern King County, Snohomish County and surrounding…

More to love at Dallas Love Field

Four months after merging, Alaska Airlines and Virgin America guests are seeing more and more benefits. Today, the combined company announced big growth at Dallas Love Field with four new daily nonstop routes to the West Coast. New, daily nonstop flights to Seattle; San Diego; Portland, Oregon; and San Jose, California will be operated using…

What’s happening behind the scenes before your flight

When you arrive at the airport for a flight, you probably have your routine down. To get to your gate with time to spare, you should be arriving two to three hours before your flight (depending on what airport you are departing from, whether you are checking bags, and whether your flight is domestic or…

Travel Advisory: Snow continues to fall at Sea-Tac Airport

1 p.m., Feb. 6 update Alaska Airlines continues to respond to ongoing snowfall at its largest hub. In anticipation of additional flight cancellations expected for this evening, we’re extending our flexible travel policy. That means customers can change or cancel flights online at no additional cost. Learn more here.

Travel alert: Pacific Northwest weather impacts flights in Portland

11 a.m. Jan. 9 update Wintry weather is continuing to create travel issues in Portland today. As of 11 a.m., Horizon Air has canceled 24 flights into and out of the airport due to icy conditions. There were also three cancellations into and out of Eugene and five cancellations into and out of Redmond, Oregon. The…

Operations