Tag Archives: N625VA

Alaska Airlines begins daily nonstop service between Seattle/Tacoma and Columbus, Ohio

Alaska Airlines issued this statement:

Alaska Airlines launched daily nonstop service today between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and John Glenn Columbus International Airport. It’s the only nonstop flight between the two cities.

Columbus becomes the 91^st nonstop destination served from Alaska’s largest hub in Seattle. Columbus is the largest city in Ohio and the 14^th largest city in the nation. It’s also home to The Ohio State University, one of the largest universities in the country and home of the Buckeyes. Recently, technology companies have made sizeable investments in the Columbus area.

Effective Date	City Pair	Departs	Arrives	Frequency	Aircraft
March 7, 2019	Seattle – Columbus	9:45 a.m.	5:10 p.m.	Daily	A320
March 7, 2019	Columbus – Seattle	6:15 p.m.	8:15 p.m.	Daily	A320
Flight times based on local time zones.

Top Copyright Photo: Alaska Airlines Airbus A320-214 N625VA (msn 2800) JFK (Fred Freketic). Image: 945916.

Alaska Airlines aircraft slide show (Airbus):

Alaska to add Seattle/Tacoma – Columbus, Ohio flights

Alaska Airlines will add a new spoke route from its Seattle/Tacoma hub next year. The carrier on March 7, 2019 the carrier will add the SEA – Columbus, Ohio route.

The new route will be operated daily with Airbus A320 aircraft.

Alaska Airlines issued this statement:

Alaska Airlines is ready to touch down in Buckeye Country. The airline announced today it will begin daily nonstop service between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and John Glenn Columbus International Airport in Ohio. The new service, which is scheduled to begin March 7, 2019, will be the only nonstop flight offered between the Pacific Northwest and Central Ohio.

Effective Date	City Pair	Departs	Arrives	Frequency	Aircraft
March 7, 2019	Seattle – Columbus	9:45 a.m.	5:15 p.m.	Daily	A320
March 7, 2019	Columbus – Seattle	6:15 p.m.	8:25 p.m.	Daily	A320

Flight times based on local time zones.

Alaska currently operates an average of 31 daily flights from the West Coast to 10 Midwest cities, which includes Chicago; Detroit; Indianapolis; Kansas City, Missouri; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Minneapolis; Oklahoma City; Omaha, Nebraska; St. Louis; and Wichita, Kansas.

From Alaska’s main hub in Seattle/Tacoma, guests can travel nonstop to 89 destinations. Columbus becomes the 90^th nonstop destination this spring.

Alaska aircraft slide show (Airbus):

Alaska to drop the San Francisco – Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood route

Alaska Airlines is planning to drop the former Virgin America San Francisco – Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood route.

The last flight will be operated on January 7, 2019 according to Airline Route.

Alaska aircraft slide show (Airbus):

Alaska Airlines launches nonstop service between San Jose, California, and New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport

Alaska Airlines begins nonstop service today between Mineta San Jose International Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City.

The new Alaska Lounge includes Starbucks-trained baristas who will create custom handcrafted espresso beverages and full-leaf tea beverages for guests.

Photo Above: Alaska Airlines. The new Alaska Lounge (below) includes Starbucks-trained baristas (above) who will create custom handcrafted espresso beverages and full-leaf tea beverages for guests.

Alaska’s newest lounge features a living room-esque design with multiple seating areas designed with business and leisure travelers in mind. (PRNewsfoto/Alaska Airlines)

With the addition of the new service, Alaska now operates 15 flights a day to JFK from six West Coast gateways including Las Vegas; Los Angeles; Portland, Oregon; San Francisco; San Jose; and Seattle. The new route builds on Alaska Airlines’ largest network growth in the company’s 85-year history and solidifies Alaska as the leading airline of nonstop flights from the West Coast.

With the addition of this new and expanded JFK service, Alaska provides 38 daily flights to 19 nonstop destinations from San Jose.

Timed with the flight expansion, Alaska’s newest Lounge is now open on the mezzanine level of Terminal 7 at JFK, offering a warm, welcoming experience with multiple seating areas, handcrafted espresso and full-leaf tea beverages, complimentary fresh foods, and a wide-selection of microbrews, West Coast wines and signature cocktails. Alaska is the only domestic carrier to offer all paid First Class guests complimentary access to the lounge, and the first domestic lounge to introduce a full menu of barista-pulled handcrafted espresso beverages.

Summary of new service:

Alaska gates and the Alaska Lounge are located in the same terminal as Global Partners British Airways and Icelandair, providing guests traveling through JFK with convenient access to a combined 10 daily flights to top global destinations across Europe. Members of Alaska Mileage Plan can travel and earn miles to more than 900 destinations around the globe through a unique network of international partners, with many flying out of JFK.

Top Copyright Photo (All others by Alaska Airlines): Alaska Airlines Airbus A320-214 N625VA (msn 2800) LAX (Michael B. Ing). Image: 942651.

Alaska Airlines aircraft slide show (Airbus):

Alaska Airlines adds new nonstop service between New York’s JFK Airport and San Jose, California, and third daily Seattle flight

Alaska Airlines today announces new daily, nonstop service between San Jose, California and New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) beginning July 6.

Additionally, Alaska is expanding service between Seattle/Tacoma and JFK with an early-morning, nonstop flight, giving flyers convenient connections to 10 international destinations on its Global Partner airlines. Together, Alaska and Virgin America operate 15 flights a day to JFK from six West Coast gateways including Seattle, Portland, Oregon, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas and soon San Jose.

Summary of new service:

Start Date	City pair	Departs	Arrives	Aircraft	Frequency
July 6	San Jose – JFK	7:05 a.m.	3:43 p.m.	A320	Daily
July 6	JFK – San Jose	4:45 p.m.	8:23 p.m.	A320	Daily
July 6	Seattle – JFK	7:05 a.m.	3:35 p.m.	A320	Daily
July 6	JFK – Seattle	6:55 p.m.	10:26 p.m.	A320	Daily
Flight times based on local time zones.

The new Alaska Lounge at JFK, located upstairs in Terminal 7, will open to the public in late April. It will offer a premium lounge experience featuring signature touches like a barista for custom crafted coffee drinks and a relaxing living room feel that embodies the airlines’ cool, West Coast vibe. Additional enhancements to the Terminal 7 airport experience, funded by a $65 million investment from British Airways, are helping to modernize the terminal and enhance the food and retail concession experience while providing new seating areas near the gates for an improved customer experience.

Alaska gates and the Alaska Lounge are located in the same terminal as Global Partners British Airways and Icelandair, providing guests convenient access to a combined 10 daily flights to top global destinations across Europe. Alaska allows Mileage Plan members to travel and earn miles to more than 900 destinations around the globe through a unique network of international partners, with many flying out of JFK.

Alaska Airlines aircraft slide show (current livery, Airbus):

Alaska Airlines to drop four routes this summer

Alaska Airlines is dropping four routes. According to Airline Route, the carrier will drop the following routes:

Los Angeles – Orlando on July 5, 2018

San Diego – Mexico on May 19, 2018

San Francisco – Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood on June 17, 2018

San Francisco – Minneapolis/St. Paul on May 19, 2018

Alaska Airlines aircraft slide show (Airbus):

Alaska Airlines, Virgin America and its flight attendants reach tentative merger agreement

Alaska Airlines, Virgin America and the Association of Flight Attendants announced on February 14, 2018 announced they have reached a tentative merger agreement for the airline’s 5,400 flight attendants.

The merger agreement includes competitive pay raises, increase in retirement contributions and quality of life benefits and preserves all productivity of Alaska Airlines existing contract.

Alaska Airlines’ flight attendants will conduct a ratification vote that is expected to be completed in April. The tentative merger agreement marks a major milestone in integrating Virgin America and Alaska Airlines flight attendants.

Virgin America flight attendants joined AFA in April 2017, shortly after the merger. Next steps for this work group include combining seniority lists, cross training on Boeing and Airbus, as well as integration of crew scheduling systems, which will be completed in 2019.

The existing five-year contract, which was approved by members in 2014, becomes amendable in December 2019. Alaska Airlines and AFA will begin negotiations for its first joint labor agreement later this year.

Under the Railway Labor Act, which governs collective bargaining agreements in the airline industry, contracts do not expire. Instead they become amendable.

Alaska Airlines aircraft slide show (Airbus, current livery):

Alaska Air Group reports fourth quarter and 2017 results

https://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-UnitedStates-1/Alaska-Airlines-2/i-dvFR6vD/A

Alaska Airlines Group issued this financial report for the 4Q and 2017:

Dividend Increase:

Announced today a 7% increase in the quarterly dividend from $0.30 per share to $0.32 per share. The dividend will be paid on March 8, to all shareholders of record as of Feb. 20, 2018. This is the fifth time the company has raised the dividend since initiating the quarterly dividend in July 2013, with a cumulative increase of 220% since that time.

Financial Highlights:

Reported net income for the fourth quarter and full-year under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) of $367 million, or $2.97 per diluted share, and $1.0 billion, or $8.30 per diluted share. These results compare to fourth quarter 2016 net income of $114 million, or $0.92per diluted share, and full-year 2016 net income of $814 million, or $6.54 per diluted share. As the acquisition of Virgin America Inc. (Virgin America) closed on Dec. 14, 2016, 2017 information reflects the results of Virgin America. 2016 information reflects the results of Virgin America from Dec. 14-31, 2016.
Reported fourth quarter 2017 adjusted diluted earnings per share of $0.83 compared to $1.56reported in the fourth quarter of 2016. Fourth quarter adjusted net income, excluding merger-related costs, special income tax benefits related to tax law changes, and mark-to-market fuel hedging adjustments, was $103 million compared to $193 million in the fourth quarter of 2016. This quarter’s adjusted results compare to the First Call analyst consensus estimate of $0.82 per share.
Reported full year 2017 adjusted net income, excluding merger-related costs, the special income tax benefit, and mark-to-market fuel hedging adjustments, of $823 million, compared to $911 million in 2016. Reported 2017 adjusted diluted earnings per share of $6.64, compared to $7.32in 2016.
Paid a $0.30 per-share quarterly cash dividend in the fourth quarter, bringing total dividend payments in 2017 to $148 million.
Repurchased a total of 981,277 shares of common stock for approximately $75 million in 2017.
Generated approximately $1.6 billion of operating cash flow and used approximately $1.0 billionfor capital expenditures, resulting in approximately $547 million of free cash flow in 2017.
Grew passenger revenues by 32% compared to the fourth quarter of 2016, and by 36% compared to full-year 2016, largely enabled by our acquisition of Virgin America in December of 2016.
Generated full-year adjusted pretax margin of 17% in 2017.
Held $1.6 billion in unrestricted cash and marketable securities as of Dec. 31, 2017.
Reduced debt-to-capitalization ratio to 51% as of Dec. 31, 2017, compared to 59% as of Dec. 31, 2016.

2017 Accomplishments and Highlights:

Recognition and Awards – Alaska

Ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Traditional Carriers” in 2017 by J.D. Power for the tenth year in a row.
Ranked first in the U.S. News & World Report’s list of Best Travel Rewards Programs for the third consecutive year.
Won the “Best Rewards Program” for Alaska Mileage Plan for carriers in the “Americas” region in the sixth annual FlyerTalk Award.
Mileage Plan ranked Best Airline Elite Status Program in the U.S. by The Points Guy.
Ranked among Forbes’ 2017 “America’s Best Employers” for the third year in a row.
Received 16th Diamond Award of Excellence from the Federal Aviation Administration, recognizing both Alaska and Horizon’s aircraft technicians for their commitment to training.
Ranked by AirlineRatings.com as one of only two U.S. airlines in the Top 20 safest airlines in the world.
Rated “Best Airline Staff in North America” and “Best Regional Airline in North America” by Skytrax World Airline Awards.
Awarded TripAdvisor’s 2017 Travelers’ Choice Award for second-best midsize and low-cost airlines in North America and one of the top 10 best airlines in the world.
Recognized by the Puget Sound Business Journal as the 2017 Board Diversity Champion, as well as by the Women Corporate Directors Global Institute for diversity among our Directors.
Ranked as the top U.S. airline in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), receiving perfect scores for “efficiency” and “reliability.”
Recognized as No. 1 in fuel efficiency for U.S. airlines by the International Council on Clean Transportation for the 7th consecutive year.
Named one of the overall five-star major regional airlines at the Passenger Choice Awards during the APEX EXPO.
Ranked fifth of most engaged companies in the U.S. by Forbes Insights, which measured social media engagement, net promoter scores, and year-over-year sales growth.

Recognition and Awards – Virgin America

Rated Best U.S. Airline by Conde Nast Traveler in their “Annual Readers’ Choice Awards” for the tenth year in a row.
Rated Best Domestic Airline in Travel + Leisure “World’s Best Awards” for the tenth year in a row.
Received a five-star rating for low-cost carrier, and received a top honor with a Passenger Choice Award for “Best Seat Comfort” during the APEX EXPO.

Our People

Awarded $135 million in incentive pay to employees for 2017.
Awarded employees a $1,000 bonus in January 2018 in connection with the passing of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, amounting to approximately $25 million to be paid on Jan. 29, 2018.
Granted “Single Carrier Determination” by the National Mediation Board (“NMB”) for Alaska Airlines and Virgin America, paving the way for labor integration and union representation. The NMB officially certified the Association of Flight Attendants as the union representative for Virgin America inflight teammates and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers as the union representative for Virgin America clerical, office and passenger service employees.
Entered into an agreement with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters to amend the eight-year contract with Horizon’s pilots, providing Horizon the ability to attract and retain the best pilots in the regional industry.
Alaska received a perfect score of 100% for workplace equality on the 2018 Corporate Equality Index (“CEI”). Virgin America received a score of 95%.

Our Guests and Product

Launched various new in-flight amenities, including Free Chat, upgraded food and beverage options and Premium Class service.
Selected Gogo to provide next-generation satellite-based Wi-Fi across the entire Boeing and Airbus fleets, providing guests a faster and more-reliable internet connection.
Dropped fees for bikes, golf clubs, skis, surfboards, and other sporting equipment that exceed Alaska’s normal checked baggage weight and dimensions to $25.
Added Condor Airlines, Finnair, and Singapore Airlines as global Mileage Plan partners.
Announced plans to fly 13 daily departures from Paine Field-Snohomish County Airport in Everett, Washington to eight West Coast markets starting in fall 2018.
Announced a seven-year partnership to be the official airline of the San Francisco Giants which includes, among other things, exclusive naming rights to the AT&T Park Club Level which will now be called the “Alaska Airlines Club Level.”

Signed an exclusive multi-year partnership with Golden State Warriors star Kevin Durant naming him “Advisor to the CEO,” and extended our partnership with Russell Wilson and Ciara.
Converted the world’s first Boeing 737-700 from a passenger plane to a freighter and placed it into revenue service.
Added 14 Boeing 737-900ER aircraft and 4 Airbus A321neo aircraft to the operating fleet in 2017, bringing the total Mainline fleet to 221 aircraft.
Added 10 Embraer 175 (E175) regional jets to Horizon Air’s fleet in 2017.
Added 44 new markets in 2017 across the Alaska Air Group and Virgin America networks.

Our Communities

Donated over $14 million and contributed more than 32,000 volunteer hours to support nonprofits in our local communities, focusing on youth and education, medical (research/transportation) and community outreach.

Alaska Air Group Inc. reported fourth quarter 2017 GAAP net income of $367 million, or $2.97 per diluted share, compared to $114 million, or $0.92 per diluted share in 2016. Excluding the impact of merger-related costs, the special income tax benefit, and mark-to-market fuel hedge adjustments, the company reported fourth quarter adjusted net income of $103 million, or $0.83 per diluted share, compared to adjusted net income of $193 million, or $1.56 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2016.

The company reported full-year 2017 GAAP net income of $1,028 million, compared to $814 million in the prior year. Excluding the impact of merger-related costs, the special income tax benefit, and mark-to-market fuel hedge adjustments, the company reported adjusted net income of $823 million, or $6.64 per diluted share for 2017, compared to adjusted net income of $911 million, or $7.32 per diluted share in 2016.

“2017 was a great year – we invested in our route network, our fleet, our product, and laid the foundation for our future,” said Brad Tilden, Alaska’s CEO. “We added 44 new routes to our network (in addition to the 38 added through Virgin America), grew membership in our loyalty program, and made great progress on our integration of Virgin America. By early spring, we’ll have the bulk of the integration behind us, and working with our people to do more of what Alaska does best – running a highly reliable operation and offering our guests outstanding customer service.”

Copyright Photo: The first ex-Virgin America Airbus A320 has been repainted at Victorville. After this photo was taken, it was flown to San Francisco to enter revenue service from SFO. Alaska Airlines Airbus A320-214 N625VA (msn 2800) VCV (Derin Allard). Image: 940790.

Alaska Airlines aircraft slide show (current livery):

Alaska Airlines repaints its first ex-Virgin America Airbus A320

Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma) has started the re-painting process of the Virgin America fleet.

Alaska has just departed from being “Proudly All Boeing” (the inscription on the nose of their Boeing fleet).

Alaska Airlines has released photos of the first former Virgin America Airbus A320 to be repainted – the pictured A320-214 N625VA (msn 2800).

Photos Alaska Airlines.

Virgin America is coming to San Jose, California

Virgin America (San Francisco) is expanding in the Bay Area. The airline will add Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) to its route map as of May 1, 2013. Virgin America will launch service from SJC to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on this date, supplementing its base from nearby SFO.

In five and a half years of flying, Virgin America has grown from three aircraft to a fleet of 52, with expansion to 19 destinations.

Virgin America: