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Alaska Airlines, (), based in Seattle, Washington , USA, has grown from a small Regional Airline to one carrying more than 12 million customers per year. It operates hubs at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport , as well as large operations at Los Angeles International Airport , San Francisco International Airport , and Portland International Airport . HISTORY The airline traces its roots to McGee Airways, which flew its inaugural service between Anchorage and Bristol Bay in 1932 with a Stinson single-engined, three-passenger aircraft. Mergers and acquisitions produced changes in the name and saw business expand throughout Alaska and the USA. The name Alaska Airlines was adopted in 1944 . Alaska Airlines moved to the jet age when it brought in a Convair CV-990 . Alaska's sister (and wholly owned) airline, Horizon Air , was founded in 1981 to serve communities using routes vacated by larger airlines after the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978. In 1985 , Alaska Air Group was formed as a Holding Company for Alaska Airlines. A year later the holding company acquired Horizon Air and Jet America Airlines , which merged into Alaska Airlines in 1987 . The airline employs 9,866 staff (at March 2007 ).1 DESTINATIONS See Also: Alaska Airlines destinations Alaska's route system spans more than 80 cities in the United States , Canada , and Mexico . The airline operated charter flights to the Russian Far East starting in the late 1960s, and was known for the 1988 Friendship Flight to Provideniya that broke the old Soviet border. The airline began scheduled operations to the Russian Far East in 1991 following the break up of the Soviet Union, but suspended the service in 1998 following the Russian Financial Crisis . The airline flew MD-80 aircraft on these routes. arriving to Alaska Airlines' hub at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport ]] Alaska's reputation for outstanding service has earned it high marks from sources such as '' Travel + Leisure '' and '' Condé Nast Traveler '' magazines. The airline is considered an early adopter of technology, and was the first to sell tickets on their own website, allow web check-in, and install self check-in kiosks at airports. Alaska Airlines also was the first airline to introduce the digEplayer, a portable digital entertainment system which features on-demand movies, TV shows, cartoons, music and destination info. Alaska has historically been one of the largest carriers on the US west coast as well as to and within the State of Alaska, with strong presences in Seattle , Portland , the San Francisco Bay Area and the Los Angeles Metro Area (serving all five LA-area and three Bay Area major airports). With the delivery of 737 Next-Generation aircraft starting in 1999, Alaska began launching more long-haul flights. In 2000, Alaska started service between Anchorage and Chicago. In 2001, the airline was granted slot exemptions by the Department of Transportation to operate a nonstop flight from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to Seattle, which was halted after only a few days due to 9/11. However, the service resumed the following year, with an additional flight from Washington National to Seattle added in 2004, as well as new non-stop service between Washington National and Los Angeles. Other long-haul flights from Seattle were launched starting in 2002, including flights to Boston , Miami , and Newark . In October 2007, Alaska Airlines will begin service to Hawaii , providing non-stop service to Honolulu from Seattle and Anchorage as well as service to Lihue , Kauai from Seattle. Alaska Airlines' regional carrier, Horizon Air , is closely integrated into Alaska's operations, with Alaska and Horizon sharing many routes. Alaska and Horizon are owned by the same parent company, Alaska Air Group. The airline's Frequent Flyer Program is called Mileage Plan. Alaska Airlines is not part of any of the three major Airline Alliance s, but Mileage Plan airline partners include prominent members of SkyTeam , such as Continental Airlines , Delta Air Lines , Northwest Airlines , KLM , and Air France , as well as members of Oneworld , including American Airlines , British Airways , Cathay Pacific , and Qantas . FLEET The Alaska Airlines All-Boeing (including McDonnell Douglas ) fleet consists of the following aircraft as of September 2007: Alaska Airlines Fleet Facts : Retired fleet . Alaska was the launch customer of the aircraft.]] As of September 2007, the average age of Alaska Airlines' fleet is 9 years. Alaska Airlines Fleet Age Alaska operates a fleet of Boeing 737 and MD-80 (under McDonnell Douglas when purchased or leased) jets which is one of the youngest among all major airlines. The airline ultimately plans to replace all MD-80 aircraft with Boeing 737-800s by the end of 2008. Alaska was the launch customer for the 737-900 stretch variant and also uses 737-400, 737-700 and 737-800 throughout its system. Starting in late 2005, Alaska began modifying some of its 737-400's to all-cargo or cargo-passenger configuration to replace its aging fleet of 737-200 Combi aircraft. The first of these aircraft entered service as a freighter in July 2006, while several 737-400 aircraft have been reconfigured to a fixed passenger/cargo configuration. Alaska retired five 737-200 aircraft in 2006. The last 737-200 was retired March 31 , 2007 . On or Victorville, California . BOARD ROOM Alaska Airlines' Airport Lounge is called the Board Room. There are six clubs, all located on the West Coast . Board Room members also have access to the Continental Airlines President's Club , Delta Air Lines Crown Room Club , and Northwest Airlines WorldClubs . Listed below are the Board Room locations: EMPLOYEES As of March 2007, Alaska Airlines employs 9,866 employees. In 2005, Alaska outsources its baggage handling duties at most airports and replaced them with private contractors, except in the State of Alaska. Alaska's heavy aircraft maintenance used to be done by the carrier in Oakland, California but since 2005 it's now done by companies in Abbotsford, British Columbia , and Oklahoma City , but the airline still performs routine maintenance at its hangar at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport . LIVERY ]] Alaska's first livery was just golden words saying Alaska on its tails. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, a painting of an Eskimo , still used by the carrier, was added to the livery. Three 737-400 aircraft feature special Disney paint schemes. Another 737-400 is painted to look like a giant salmon (known in aviation circles as the "Salmon-Thirty-Salmon"), while one 737-400 and one 737-800 feature the "reverse scheme" livery with alaskaair.com painted on the sides. The colors of Alaska Airlines starting in the 1980s were blue and green. At the start of the 1990s Alaska's colors became ink blue and teal. In November 2006 Alaska added another 737 to its fleet in the Disney Genie scheme. Alaska also used to have Eskimos that said things like "Thank you for flying Alaska" and some of them even had sunglasses. The fleet has another special 737 with the carrier's first colors to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the start of Alaska Airlines where the livery was voted by employees of Alaska Airlines. INCIDENTS AND ACCIDENTS
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