He is responsible for overseeing flight operations, maintenance and engineering, labor relations and customer service. That is a big job to have considering Alaska Airlines is the seventh largest airline in the United States based on passenger traffic. The airline carries more passengers between Alaska and the lower 48 states than any other airline (Alaska Airlines, 2016). The impressive, young fleet of aircraft includes 150 Boeing 737 aircraft and 52 Bombardier Q400 owned aircraft. The airline has also committed to expanding its fleet to 159 by the end of 2017. There are six commemorative aircraft in the fleet and four Disneyland designed aircraft that pay tribute to the airlines long-term partnership with the Disneyland Resort. The iconic Eskimo that is featured on the tail of the plane represents the airlines Alaskan roots and promotes its friendly, laid back style. Alaska Airlines has hubs in Anchorage, Alaska, Los Angeles, California and Portland, Oregon with Seattle, Washington serving as home base. The airline route structure includes 114 destinations with 920 daily departures in the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica and Canada. Alaska Airlines employs 11,536 employees (Alaska Airlines, …show more content…
Alaska Airlines prides itself in taking care of their employees. All employees are represented by an independent trade union or covered by collective bargaining agreements. Contract negations in the commercial airline industry are governed by the Railway Labor Act (RLA), which was passed by congress in 1926. The RLA seeks to “avoid interruptions in interstate commerce by setting clear guidelines for labor negotiations at airlines” (Railway Labor Act, 2011). The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) represents the pilots who fly for Alaska Airlines. ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world (ALPA, 2016). The job of the ALPA is to provide their members with airline safety, security, representation and advocacy. ALPA puts the power in the hands of the pilots and pilot groups and exercise considerable autonomy in governing their own affairs such as, “negotiating contracts, enforcing contracts and discussing issues of concern with their companies” (ALPA, 2016). While the pilots for Alaska Airlines did threaten to strike in February of 2007, they were able to reach contract negotiations. Similarly, a union also represents the maintenance personal at Alaska Airlines. The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) represents the maintenance personnel that work for Alaska Airlines. The AMFA is a union that only represents aircraft maintenance technicians (Aircraft Mechanics