Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma) announced today it begins nonstop service between Nashville and Seattle/Tacoma, increasing the number of nonstop destinations from its Seattle/Tacoma (SEA) hub to 84 destinations – twice as many as Alaskaโs nearest competitor.
Alaska is operating the new flights with fuel-efficient, next generation Boeing 737 aircraft.
Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com.ย Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-890 WL N570AS (msn 35185) in the special “Follow us to Disneyland Resort – Disney Cars” livery now with APB Split Scimitar Winglets arrives in Los Angeles.
Alaska Airlines aircraft slide show:ย
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Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma) and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) have reached a tentative agreement on a new five-year contract for the carrier’s 2,500 clerical, office and passenger service employees.
The proposed contract includes pay raises and job security provisions, among other improvements.
The current three-year contract became amendable onย January 1. Results of a ratification vote on the new contract are expected in early April. Contracts in the airline industry do not expire. Once they become amendable, the current contract remains in effect until a new agreement is ratified.
Copyright Photo: James Helbock/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-890 N570AS (msn 35185) decorated in the “Follow Us to Disneyland Resort – Disney Cars” motif arrives in Los Angeles.
Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma) today introduced its fifth Disney logojet in rainy Seattle. Boeing 737-890 N570AS (msn 35185) has been painted in this special “Follow us to Disneyland Resort” color scheme. Oddly instead of promoting the recent “Disney Planes” movie the characters are from “Disney Cars”.
Alaska Airlines later in the day issued this statement:
The newest themed airplane in Alaska Airlines’ fleet flew into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport today (November 7), featuring one of America’s most beloved and rusty tow trucks.
Adorned with the familiar images of Disney-Pixar’s animatedย Carsย characters Mater, Lightning McQueen, Guido and Luigi, the colorful Boeing 737-800 named “Adventure ofย Disneylandย Resort” celebrates Alaska’s partnership with Walt Disney’s original theme park.
It is the fifth Disney-themed airplane born out of the successful partnership between Seattle-based Alaska Airlines and Disneyland Resort.
“Our Disney planes generate a lot of excitement among our passengers young and old wherever they fly,” said Jeff Butler, Alaska Airlines’ vice president of customer service-airports and cargo, and board member of Make-A-Wish Alaska and Washington. “I can’t think of a better way to celebrate our strong partnership than to launch this flying invitation to visit Disneyland Resort’s newest attraction and Mater’s home in Cars Land.”
At a special airport event, Mater himself made a satellite appearance from Cars Land at Disney California Adventure Park, providing travelers with updates on the arrival of the plane as it neared Seattle. After the ceremony, the aircraft officially joined the Alaska fleet on a flight to Orange County, Calif., and will then fly throughout the carrier’s 65-city network.
“Adventure of Disneyland Resort is a great example of taking beloved, iconic Disney-Pixar characters and bringing them to life in new and unexpected ways,” said Sharon Siskie, Disney Destinations’ vice president of travel industry sales. “It’s been our great privilege to be part of this collaborative effort with Alaska Airlines, and we’re delighted that today’s inaugural flight will create some very powerful memories for special guests from Make-A-Wish.”
Joining passengers flying on Flight 500 were four Make-A-Wish children from Washington and Alaska, ages 3 to 7, and their families, who will spend the next several days at theย Disneylandย Resort. During their visit, they will be treated to special activities and enjoy overnight accommodations at Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel at the Resort.
“Since our inception, we’ve granted life-affirming wishes to more than 5,300 children in Alaska and Washington and it’s only because of the partnerships that we have with companies like Alaska Airlines and Disney,” said Barry McConnell, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish Alaska and Washington.
Since granting its first wish in 1986, Make-A-Wish Alaska and Washington has granted 2,257 Disney wishes and sent 1,051 children and their families on wish trips via Alaska Airlines. Disney helps Make-A-Wish Americaยฎย grant more than 5,000 wishes annually, making a trip to a Disney Park the most frequent wish requested by Make-A-Wish children.
Alaska Airlines has supported Make-A-Wish Alaska and Washington since 1986 and provides air transportation for about 225 Wish kids and their families to travel each year. Alaska invites members of its Mileage Plan to donate frequent-flier miles to Make-A-Wish through the Charity Miles program.
The Adventure of Disneyland Resort aircraft received its new livery at Aviation Technical Services in Everett, Washington. A team of specialists from Associated Painters Inc. accomplished the complicated painting process, including a sponge-type application to re-create Mater’s rust-colored finish.
Adventure ofย Disneylandย Resort trivia:
A 34-member crew worked around the clock for 29 days at Associated Painters Inc. to paint the plane.
Painters painstakingly airbrushed the aircraft with 70 unique colors and applied more than 10,000 square feet of vinyl graphics to create the lifelike characters, including the headlights, tire rims and eyes.
More than 72,000 linear feet of masking tape was used during the painting of the Adventure of Disneyland Resort.
Mater’s rustic-looking muffler, which is located on the tail of the jet, will naturally change color over time due to the plane’s normal exhaust stains.
The 129-foot-long Boeing 737-800 has a wingspan of 117 feet and a cruising speed of 530 mph.
The plane accommodates 157 passengers and six crew members.
Top Copyright Photo: Brandon Farris/AirlinersGallery.com. The weather did not cooperate at SEA today for the unveiling as a storm system moved through the area. Cockpit Copyright Photo: Alaska Airlines.
Video of the painting Process:
Alaska Airlines Slide Show (see all of the logojets):ย
Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma) on November 8 willย launch new seasonal service between Bellingham, Washington (between Vancouver and Seattle), and Kahului, Maui, Hawaii with four weekly flights. The new route will operate with Boeing 737-800s.
Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma) will inaugurate service between San Jose, CA and Guadalajara, Mexico, starting on December 15, 2010, and between Sacramento, CA, and Guadalajara, starting on December 16, 2010.
The new flights will be operated with Boeing 737-800 aircraft, accommodating 16 passengers in first class and 141 in the main cabin.
Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Is a sombrero coming for the Eskimo on the tail with the new focus on routes to Mexico? Boeing 737-890 N570AS (msn 35185) with the Lei around the Eskimo (used to promote the new routes to Hawaii) waits its turn for takeoff at the SeaTac hub.
Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma) will inaugurate service between San Jose, CA, and Lihue, on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, on March 27, 2011, and between Oakland, CA, and Lihue beginning March 28, 2011.
The new flights will complement the airline’s existing Hawaii service from San Jose and Oakland to Kahului, Maui, and Kona, on the Big Island of Hawaii, and new flights between Sacramento, CA, and Kahului, which started in March of this year.
The new Hawaii flights will be operated with Boeing 737-800 aircraft, accommodating 16 passengers in first class and 141 in the main cabin.
Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Boeing 737-890 N570AS (msn 35185) waits its turn for takeoff at the SEA hub.
Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma) yesterday (November 9) launched four-times-weekly service between Oakland and Kahului (Maui) with Boeing 737-800s. Today the company will start thrice-weekly flights between OAK and Kona (Big Island).
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