Alaska Airlines is ready to launch the new loyalty program of the carrier in this summer.
The program is an important step in the merger of the airline at Seattle with Hawaiian Airlines. As the still———has by———has to alliance and change the separate program Alaska Mileage Plan And Aerial airport Program.
During a quarterly income call with investors on Thursday, Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicuki described the new program as “another exciting step in increasing our guest experience”. The loyalty platform will be combined with one New premium credit card Too.
Alaska’s new loyalty program is not preventing adjacent travelers from signing up for one of their current cobbed mileage plan credit cards. In the first quarter, the number of card sign-ups increased 26% year-to-year; Most of the activity took place in Hawaii, where the sign-up jumped 40%. This otherwise helped promote Cobranded Card Revenue for Alaska in the challenging period.
Alaska saw the same recession in the first quarter demanding American travel, as stated by the other carrier. This contributed Net loss during period And inspired the carrier to delay any guidance updates for the whole year. However, the authorities expressed confidence that it had passed below.
Alaska Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Harrison said during the call, “The overall booking has been stabilized because we look forward, we were planning on low yields.” The yields refer to the payment of air fare passengers.
The recession or not, Alaska officials remain rapidly on the future of the airline.
The premium performs well, even the demand slows
Alaska’s investment in his premium Prasad is proving to be a presentation. Officials said the first class and additional-legroom economy seats (or revenue from “premium class”, as Alaska refers to them) increased rapidly than revenue from the seats of the economy in the first quarter, officials said.
Airline is in process More than 200 Boeing 737 retrofiting With additional premium seats. The program will add four first-class seats (total 16) in its 737–800s; It will also add 737–900ers and 737 maximum 9s and additional-leggroom economy seat (totaling 30). The new 737 maximum 8s will start arriving with the same layout of 737-800s updated in May.
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Alaska has to meet more than half of its 159 737–900res and maximum 9S (84 aircraft) by July, said Harrison. Work on its 59 737-800 will start in this summer. The carrier aims to complete the premium overhaul by summer of 2026.
Alaska-Hawian merger is moving at speed
Alaska is confident in his merger with Hawaiian in his merger, Minikuchi said. The airline maintains plans for a single operating certificate – documents that allow them to work as a commercial airline from the federal aviation administration in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Hawaiian has to go to Alaska’s reservation system (also known as a “passenger service system” in the second quarter of 2026. The reservation system cutover is one of the most frightening steps in any airline merger. However, Alaska integrated Virgin America in 2018 and pulled it hard with a hiccup.
Asked if the FAA’s infamous slow bureaucracy could affect time, Minikuchi said he did not expect a delay.
“Overall, Hawaii is a bright place for us,” he said about the merger and market. “Everything we are doing is ahead of expectations.”
California, not only San Diego, is still important for Alaska
Alaska officials faced an investigation into their California strategy. Airline in pre -calling days Rinse four long routes From Los Angeles International Airport (Lax) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO), and this Three pair From San Diego International Airport (San).
“San Francisco and Los Angeles are still an important part of our California strategy,” Harrison said in response to questions on the airline’s future at two largest airports in the Golden State.
He said that the development of San Diego is part of a long -term game that fits with its loyal strategy. Alaska has steadily increased in the Southern California metropolis in the last decade, which has become the second largest airline in the airport by flights and seats after the southwest airlines, scheduled data from the aviation analyst firm Sirium show.
Alaska sees “the highest average card expenses” at San Diego of any market in its California, said Harrison.
“San Diego has performed very well on our development,” he continued. “This is a place in which we will continue to invest.”
Alaska has planned to operate 90 peak-day departure from San Diego by October. This includes additional flights to major destinations including Las Vegas’s Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), Sacramento International Airport (SMF) and San Jose Mantta International Airport (SJC).
