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Alaska Airlines adds new nonstops from Anchorage to New York City and San Diego

Alaska Air Group Inc (NYSE: ALK) is connecting Anchorage to both New York City and San Diego with seasonal nonstop service this summer. Daily flights to New York JFK begin June 13, 2024, and weekly flights to San Diego start May 18, 2024. Flights are available for purchase now at alaskaair.com.

Our new nonstop between the Big Apple and the Last Frontier offers New Yorkers an easier option to get away and enjoy the wilds of Alaska with its countless outdoor adventures, rich Alaska Native culture, wild Alaska seafood, jaw-dropping scenery and history-filled towns. It will be the only nonstop service between New York JFK and Anchorage.

Our Anchorage-New York JFK route — at 3,386 miles — will become the longest flight in our network. We’ll serve the route with our new Boeing (NYSE: BA) 737-8 aircraft. It will have the longest range of any plane in our fleet — allowing us to add new nonstop destinations that we couldn’t before.

New Anchorage routes for Summer 2024

Route Start Date End Date Departs Arrives Frequency Aircraft
Anchorage – San Diego May 18 Aug. 17 2:50 p.m. 9:10 p.m. Saturday 737
San Diego –Anchorage May 18 Aug. 17 9:00 a.m. 1:45 p.m. Saturday 737
Anchorage –New York JFK June 13 Aug. 19 8:00 p.m. 7:05 a.m. Daily 737-8
New York JFK –Anchorage June 13 Aug. 19 9:45 a.m. 1:30 p.m. Daily 737-8
All times local

 

Alaska Air Announces New Flights Between California and Montana

SEATTLE, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Following on the heels of Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) recent announcement of Montana flights (http://planesintheair.com/southwest-airlines-service-to-destin-ft-walton-and-bozeman-to-begin-may-2021/), Alaska Airlines (NYSE: ALK) has today announced four new routes between California and Montana for the summer, increasing total jet service to seven nonstop routes between the two states. 

The newest “Sun and Fun” additions will connect Los Angeles and San Diego with Kalispell, Montana, and connect San Diego and San Francisco with Bozeman, Montana. The Los Angeles and San Diego flights start May 20, and the San Francisco flight starts June 17. They’ll operate through Sept. 7.

This added summer flying builds on year-round service on three nonstop routes that connect San Diego with Missoula, Montana, and connect Los Angeles with Bozeman and Missoula.

Tickets for the new flights are available at alaskaair.com with one-way fares starting as low as $69 to and from Bozeman and as low as $89 to and from Kalispell. 

Start DateEnd DateCity PairFrequencyAircraft
 May 20, 2021Sept. 7, 2021Los Angeles – KalispellW, SaE175
 May 20, 2021Sept. 7, 2021San Diego – KalispellM, F, SaE175
 May 20, 2021Sept. 7, 2021San Diego – BozemanT, W, Th, Sa, SuE175
June 17, 2021Sept. 7, 2021San Francisco – BozemanSaE175

The new routes will be served by the Embraer 175 jet, a jet aircraft with only window and aisle seating – no middle seats. On all the new routes, guests will enjoy award-winning service in a three-class cabin that includes First Class and Premium Class; Most Free Movies in the Sky with hundreds of movies and TV shows available for viewing on personal devices; free texting on most flights; and Wi-Fi connectivity for purchase.

Kalispell’s Glacier Park International Airport is in northwest Montana’s Flathead Valley, which encompasses the gateway to Glacier National Park, Whitefish Mountain Resort and Flathead Lake — the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River.

Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport is the definition of “Big Sky Country” and about 90 miles north of Yellowstone National Park. Surrounded by mountains and rivers, Bozeman offers fishermen and hikers an abundance of options. Fly fish for trout on the Gallatin, Yellowstone, and Missouri Rivers. Follow Highway 191 for views of snow-capped mountains in Gallatin Canyon. 

Global reach: With the oneworld alliance and Alaska’s Global Partners, Alaska’s guests can connect at gateway airports on the West Coast – such as Los Angeles and San Francisco – to fly to more than 900 destinations around the world. Flyers can also earn and redeem miles with the airline’s highly-acclaimed Mileage Plan program.

Alaska Airlines serves six cities in Montana: Billings, Bozeman, Great Falls, Helena, Kalispell and Missoula.

Alaska Airlines serves 15 cities in California: Burbank, Fresno, Los Angeles, Monterey, Oakland, Ontario, Orange County, Palm Springs, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Sonoma.

Alaska Airlines Gives New California Mileage Plan Members a Deal to Remember

SEATTLE, March 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Starting today, California residents who enroll in the Alaska Airlines (NYSE: ALK) Mileage Plan™ now through March 3, 2021 can book that long-awaited trip to visit Napa Valley, the world-famous San Diego Zoo, or any other California destination with a flight on Alaska Airlines.*

The “California, on us” offer is open to the first 25,000 California residents who sign up for Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan™ between now and March 3, 2021. Eligible new members will receive a discount code valid for one flight to anywhere Alaska Airlines flies within California for just the taxes and fees from $15 each way.

“We’ve made our mark in California, and we love converting new fans into loyal ones,” said Natalie Bowman, Alaska Airlines’ managing director of marketing and advertising. “There’s so much West Coast territory for Californians to explore––especially within their own state––that we’re excited to offer a fun way to jumpstart earning Alaska miles doing just that.”

The first 25,000 eligible new Mileage Plan members who sign up between March 1 and March 3, 2021 will receive an email on March 5, 2021 with instructions on how to take advantage of this promotion which will need to be booked between March 5-7, 2021 for travel between March 29 and May 26, 2021. To register and find more information, visit alaskaair.com/california.

In addition, everyone is eligible for 30% off flights to or from California by booking today through March 3, 2021 for travel between March 22 and May 26, 2021. To purchase tickets and for more information, visit alaskaair.com/safetydance.

With a focus on helping guests travel safely when they feel comfortable, Alaska has implemented more than 100 safety measures as part of the airline’s commitment to Next-Level Care. The airline emphasizes a layered approach to safety, which starts with the requirement that all employees and guests wear a face mask or covering through the airport and on board, with no exceptions. To further demonstrate the airline’s safety protocols, the Alaska Safety Dance highlights many of the ways in which the airline is keeping guests and employees safe including enhanced cleaning between flights, HEPA air filtration, and touch-free technology. To travel, flyers must also enter into a health agreement at check-in to confirm that they are not experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and will adhere to the mask policy.

Alaska Air Group Reports Fourth Quarter 2020 and Full-Year Results

Financial Results:

  • Reported net loss for the fourth quarter and full year 2020 under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) of $430 million, or $3.47 per diluted share, and $1.3 billion, or $10.59 per diluted share. These results compare to fourth quarter 2019 net income of $181 million, or $1.46 per diluted share, and full year 2019 net income of $769 million, or $6.19 per diluted share. 
  • Reported adjusted net loss for the fourth quarter and full year 2020, excluding payroll support program wage offsets, special items, and mark-to-market fuel hedging adjustments, of $316 million, or $2.55 per diluted share, and $1.3 billion, or $10.17 per diluted share. These results compare to fourth quarter 2019 adjusted net income of $181 million, or $1.46 per diluted share, and full year 2019 adjusted net income of $798 million, or $6.42 per diluted share. 
  • Reported adjusted net debt of $1.7 billion, flat from December 2019 despite a 59% decline in operating revenues for the year. 
  • Reported a debt-to-capitalization ratio, including certain short-term borrowings, of 61%. 
  • Held $3.3 billion in unrestricted cash and marketable securities as of Dec. 31, 2020. 

Liquidity and Fleet Updates:

  • Accessed approximately $5 billion in new liquidity in 2020, including $1.2 billion raised in the capital markets and approximately $600 million in bank financing. 
  • Reached an agreement with the U.S. Treasury in January 2021 to receive an extension of payroll support totaling $533 million, $266 million of which was received on Jan. 15, 2021. 
  • Extended the period available to draw funds under the CARES Act loan program from March 26, 2021 to May 28, 2021. 
  • Announced plans to expand the mainline fleet and restructure the existing aircraft purchase agreement with Boeing. In total, Air Group will take delivery of 68 737-9 MAX aircraft between 2021 and 2024, inclusive of 32 previous purchase commitments and 13 aircraft to be leased from Air Lease Corporation. 
  • Took delivery of Alaska’s first 737-9 MAX aircraft on January 24, 2021, which is expected to enter revenue service on March 1, 2021. 
  • Permanently removed an additional 20 Airbus A320 aircraft from the fleet in the fourth quarter, resulting in 40 Airbus aircraft removed in 2020. A total of 31 Airbus aircraft remain in the operating fleet as of the end of the year. 
  • Held $3.4 billion in cash and marketable securities as of Jan. 22, 2021, and total liquidity of $5.2 billion. 

Operational and Guest Safety Updates

  • Announced seven new routes in the fourth quarter, including three “fun and sun” destinations connecting Anchorage to Las Vegas, Denver and San Francisco, and expanded service from Southern California to Austin and New York. 
  • Eliminated change fees and extended the flexible travel policy for tickets purchased through March 31, 2021. 
  • Implemented Next-Level Care initiative, which includes more than 100 measures designed to create a safe experience for guests and employees. These efforts were highlighted in the Alaska Safety Dance video
  • Named the safest U.S. airline by AirlineRatings.com in their annual Top 20 Safest Airline report. 
  • Launched the West Coast International Alliance with American Airlines on Jan. 1, 2021, which will unlock new benefits for Alaska Mileage Plan members in the spring. 
  • Partnered with healthcare providers to offer rapid and standardized COVID-19 testing for those guests traveling to destinations that require a negative result. 
  • Received diamond level certification from the Airline Passenger Experience Association for the health and safety standards Alaska and Horizon Air implemented to keep guests safe throughout their journey. 
  • Launched pre-clearance program for guests traveling to the Hawaiian Islands from the West Coast with an approved negative COVID-19 test. 
  • Announced a partnership with Microsoft to use sustainable aviation fuel to offset the environmental impact of certain business air travel. 
  • Announced oneworld benefits for elite Mileage Plan members, providing tier status in the global alliance to Alaska’s elite members, as the company works toward joining oneworld on March 31, 2021. 

Alaska Air Group Inc. (NYSE: ALK) today reported a fourth quarter 2020 GAAP net loss of $430 million, or $3.47 per diluted share, compared to net income of $181 million, or $1.46 per diluted share in 2019. Excluding the impact of payroll support program wage offsets, special items and mark-to-market fuel hedge adjustments, the company reported a fourth quarter adjusted net loss of $316 million, or $2.55 per diluted share, compared to adjusted net income of $181 million, or $1.46 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2019. 

The company reported a full-year 2020 GAAP net loss of $1.3 billion, compared to net income of $769 million in the prior year. Excluding the impact of payroll support program wage offsets, special items and mark-to-market fuel hedge adjustments, the company reported an adjusted net loss of $1.3 billion, or $10.17 per diluted share for 2020, compared to adjusted net income of $798 million, or $6.42 per diluted share in 2019.

Click the link below to view the full results!

https://newsroom.alaskaair.com/2021-01-26-Alaska-Air-Group-reports-fourth-quarter-2020-and-full-year-results

Alaska Airlines Takes Delivery of its First Boeing 737-9 MAX Aircraft

Alaska Airlines (NYSE: ALK) has accepted delivery of its first Boeing 737-9 MAX airplane, marking a new phase of modernizing the airline’s fleet in the coming years. Alaska pilots flew the aircraft on a short flight yesterday from the Boeing Delivery Center at Boeing Field in Seattle to the company’s hangar at Sea-Tac International Airport with a small group of Alaska’s top leadership on board.

Alaska’s first 737-9 is scheduled to enter passenger service on March 1 with daily roundtrip flights between Seattle and San Diego, and Seattle and Los Angeles. The airline’s second 737-9 is expected to enter service later in March.

Teams from across various divisions at Alaska will now follow a strict readiness timeline that guides the actions that must be taken before the start of passenger flights. The process – involving rigorous rounds of test flying, verifying and specific preparations – will take five weeks:

  • Maintenance technicians will undergo training to become even more acquainted with the new aircraft. They will receive at least 40 hours of “differences training,” which distinguishes the variations between the new MAX and the airline’s existing 737 NG fleet. Certain technicians will receive up to 40 additional hours of specialized training focused on the plane’s engines and avionics systems. 
  • Alaska’s pilots will put the 737-9 through its paces, flying it more than 50 flight hours and roughly 19,000 miles around the country, including to Alaska and Hawaii. These “proving flights” are conducted to confirm our safety assessments and those of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and to ensure a full understanding of the plane’s capabilities in different climates and terrain. 
  • Our pilots will receive eight hours of MAX-specific, computer-based training prior to flying the aircraft over the course of two days, which includes at least two hours of training in Alaska’s own certified, state-of-the-art MAX flight simulator. That’s where they fly several maneuvers specific to the aircraft and better understand the improvements that have been made to the plane.

Deliveries of Alaska’s 737-9 aircraft by Boeing will be flown with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which helps the aviation industry reduce CO2 emissions on a life-cycle basis. The SAF will be used on all MAX aircraft deliveries and will be supplied by Epic Fuels. 

Alaska announced a restructured order agreement with Boeing in December 2020 to receive a total of 68 737-9 MAX aircraft in the next four years, with options for an additional 52 planes. The airline is scheduled to receive 13 planes this year; 30 in 2022; 13 in 2023; and 12 in 2024. The agreement incorporates Alaska’s announcement last November to lease 13 737-9 aircraft as part of a separate transaction.

These 68 aircraft will largely replace Alaska’s Airbus fleet and move the airline substantially toward a single, mainline fleet that’s more efficient, profitable and environmentally friendly. The 737-9 will enhance the guest experience and support the company’s growth.

Alaska Airlines receives delivery of its first Boeing 737-9 MAX aircraft on Jan. 24, 2021.

SkyWest To Sell ExpressJet Airlines

ST. GEORGE, UTAH, December 18, 2018 – SkyWest, Inc. (NASDAQ: SKYW) today announced that it ishas entered into definitive agreements to sell ExpressJet Airlines, Inc. (“ExpressJet”) to United Airlines(“United”) joint venture ManaAir, LLC. The transaction is expected to close in early 2019, subject tocustomary closing conditions.

Consideration for the transaction includes approximately $70 million in cash for the majority of the assetsand the assumption of liabilities of ExpressJet, subject to a working capital adjustment. The ExpressJetassets excluded from the transaction will be utilized or liquidated by SkyWest. The expected realizablevalue to SkyWest of the remaining inventory is estimated to approximate the value of the working capitaladjustment. SkyWest will retain ownership of the CRJ aircraft currently in service at ExpressJet.

The transaction also includes certain protections around existing SkyWest Airlines flying, as well as priorityposition to add 25 new dual-cabin aircraft with United should those opportunities arise. As part of thetransaction, SkyWest has also agreed to lease 20 CRJ200s to ExpressJet for up to five years.

“Today’s announcement provides further clarity and focus for the future,” said Chip Childs, SkyWest, Inc.President and Chief Executive Officer. “We want to thank the employees of ExpressJet for their valuedcontributions and we look forward to continuing to strengthen our partnership with United.”

About SkyWest

Based in St. George, Utah, SkyWest, Inc. is the holding company for two scheduled passenger airlineoperations and an aircraft leasing company with more than 17,000 employees. SkyWest’s airlinecompanies provide commercial air service in cities throughout North America with more than 2,500 dailyflights carrying approximately 50 million passengers annually. SkyWest Airlines operates throughpartnerships with United Airlines (“United”), Delta Air Lines (“Delta”), American Airlines (“American”) andAlaska Airlines. ExpressJet Airlines operates through partnerships with United and American. This pressrelease and additional information regarding SkyWest can be accessed at inc.skywest.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

In addition to historical information, this release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the PrivateSecurities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “forecasts,” “expects,” “intends,” “believes,” “anticipates,”“estimates”, “should,” “likely” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Such statements include, but arenot limited to, statements about the expected terms, timing and benefits related to the ExpressJet transaction, SkyWest’sfuture financial and operating results, plans, objectives, expectations, estimates, intentions and outlook, and otherstatements that are not historical facts. All forward-looking statements included in this release are made as of the datehereof and are based on information available to SkyWest as of such date. SkyWest assumes no obligation to update anyforward-looking statement. Readers should note that many factors could affect the future operating and financial results ofSkyWest, SkyWest Airlines or ExpressJet, and could cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed inforward-looking statements set forth in this release including the risk that the ExpressJet transaction may not close on theterms or timing described herein, or at all. Additional risk factors, cautionary statements and other conditions which couldcause SkyWest’s actual results to differ materially from management’s current expectations are contained in SkyWest’sfilings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and QuarterlyReports on Form 10-Q.

Story and image from http://www.skywest.com

Airline Stocks That Look Ready to Rise

Barron’s says it’s going to be another good day for airlines, as a number of analysts had good things to say about stocks across the sector.

Where we were: Airlines have struggled this year, but Spirit Airlines (SAVE) upbeat fourth-quarter forecast sent shares soaring Tuesday.

Click the link below for the full story!