Alaska Airways, lengthy beloved within the state that gave the corporate its identify, constructed a reputation for itself via reliability and customer support over many years. In only a few brief months, it is set that credibility on hearth.
Due to a pilot scarcity, the airline has resorted to paring its schedule and canceling flights, typically with little to no advance discover. Alaskans getting back from journeys Outdoors have discovered themselves stranded, caught on maintain in airports for hours attempting to reschedule. These attempting to e book journey to the Decrease 48 have watched round-trip ticket costs soar, and even buy of an itinerary isn’t any assure the flights will go forward as scheduled.
Logistical complications
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The disruption to Alaska Airways’ schedule started with the COVID-19 pandemic. As air journey numbers plummeted, airways shed prices nonetheless they might, which ultimately led to cutbacks in flight schedules and even dropping of less-busy routes. In consequence, since air journey demand started returning to ranges approaching pre-pandemic quantity in 2022, planes have been booked full — and sometimes overfull — leaving little probability for passengers who miss connections or endure different mishaps to discover a place on the subsequent flight to their vacation spot.
Compounding the problem, based on Alaska Airways CEO Ben Minicucci, is the airline’s overestimate of accessible pilots in April and Might. Minicucci stated the airline is wanting its deliberate schedule by 63 pilots, and has needed to cancel roughly 50 flights per day for the previous two months. As he identified, that is solely 4% of the corporate’s flights, however it’s simple to do the mathematics and notice which means a number of thousand folks per day have been left excessive and dry, typically after already flying a part of their itinerary. And when a number of thousand folks per day must rebook flights, which means Alaska Airways’ famously responsive customer support has abruptly begun to resemble an web service supplier’s help line, with maintain instances stretching hours and brokers typically unable to do something greater than commiserate with stranded passengers resulting from an absence of accessible flight area.
Greater than an airline
Capability woes for air carriers are nothing new. However Alaska Airways is not simply one other airline for residents of the Final Frontier. An enormous proportion of passenger and cargo air site visitors to, from and inside the state flies by way of Alaska Airways — though different main airways service Alaska, it is no exaggeration to say that Alaska Airways looks like our conduit to the surface world. It is a particular relationship that has been acknowledged by each Alaskans and the airline, which began its “Membership 49″ program for Alaska residents that permit us retain some advantages — free checked luggage, anybody? — as airways have been beginning to reduce or cost additional.
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The Anchorage-Seattle hall has been a profitability spine for the corporate, and it has moved aggressively to defend it when different gamers reminiscent of Delta have tried to maneuver in. Regardless of occasional friction over typical air-industry maneuvering, reminiscent of much less legroom and creeping charges for providers that was once free, Alaskans and Alaska Airways have loved a mutually useful relationship. However through the previous few months, when the airline has began to resemble a few of its lesser rivals, Alaskans have been asking themselves how a lot they’re keen to place up with earlier than renouncing their loyalty.
That loyalty is being examined not solely by canceled flights and delays, however excessive costs. Within the month of June, the most affordable outbound one-way fares to Seattle from Anchorage aren’t too far above regular — most days, the least pricey ticket is between $150 and $200. However returning to Alaska is a unique story: On some June days, the most affordable fare from Seattle to Anchorage already prices greater than $500, a sum that solely rises as flights refill with summer season guests. It is even more durable touring to and from Fairbanks, the place on some days, the most affordable round-trip flights to Seattle will run Alaskans practically $1,000. Excessive ticket costs is perhaps an efficient option to enhance margins and make it possible for scarce seats command a premium, however they’re additionally an invite for different airways to maneuver in on the routes. Alaskans depend on Alaska Air as typically our solely option to transfer across the state, or to go to family members and search medical care Outdoors. Thousand-dollar round-trips simply to achieve the Decrease 48′s doorstep successfully reduce off that lifeline for a lot of Alaskans.
The clock is ticking
In an apology video posted on-line in mid-Might, CEO Minicucci stated the airline’s woes ought to clean themselves out in June, when 114 extra pilots are anticipated to be accessible. For his sake and that of his airline, we hope that is an correct prediction. Along with Alaskans’ endurance carrying skinny, the corporate can be within the midst of an intense labor negotiation with its pilots, who simply final week signed off on a future strike if federal mediation proves fruitless. If a strike does happen, the present flight disruptions will look trivial by comparability.
Extra than simply {dollars} and cents, nonetheless, it is Alaska Airways’ fame that is on the road. “Long run, Alaska is a resilient airline with 90 years of historical past,” Minicucci stated in his message to clients, promising to “return to being the Alaska you may rely on.” That is a message the CEO ought to carry personally to Alaskans, at Chamber of Commerce conferences, Rotary Membership occasions and different gatherings. An in-person mea culpa and rationalization of the elements at play might go a good distance towards repairing bridges which can be at present on hearth. As Minicucci is aware of, the goodwill it took 90 years to amass can disappear far sooner if clients aren’t glad — and different airways can be solely too completely satisfied to capitalize on Alaska’s misfortune.
Mom or Dad is at work all day, or out of the picture altogether. The spouse is at home taking care of the kiddos but needs to get out of the house to work or pursue an education. There is just one obstacle, but it is a big one – day care. In Alaska and throughout the nation quality day care is hard to find and expensive.
J. Howard Miller’s “We Can Do It!”, also called “Rosie the Riveter” after the iconic figure of a strong female war production worker. (U.S. Office for Emergency Management image)
Imagine the issue resolved. Imagine that high quality day care is widely available and jaw-droppingly inexpensive at about $8 to $10 per child per day. Day care includes snacks and a hot lunch. It includes a ratio of 1 to 10, staff to children. And it includes basic health care.
The day care facility may be a new building specifically built as a fully equipped modern day care center, or it may be a local school building. It opens early and stays open late to accommodate elastic work schedules. Some day care facilities are open 24 hours a day, six days a week. At the end of the day, select day care centers send home an evening meal for the parent and children.
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Impossible but tantalizing daydream? No, not a mere daydream — part of our American history. Parents demanded it. Politicians wanted it. And it was done. For a few brief years the United States had a generously funded day care program across the nation.
Early in the 1940s the United States had hurled itself into war against the Axis powers. The men were gone, engaged in the war effort. Graphics of Rosie the Riveter were everywhere, urging women to replace men in critical war industries. Maybe Rosie didn’t have children, or maybe she had a kindly mother who watched her children while she was hammering rivets. But millions of real women were alone at home with their children. How could they work full-time in war industries and be full-time mothers at the same time? As the New York Times reported in 2019:
“The major source of funding to remedy this came from the Lanham Act of 1940, which enabled a number of social programs during the war years. Beginning in 1942, the Lanham Act funded the Federal Works Agency to provide group child care in areas of ‘war impact.’ But far from instantly setting up a cheerful child care center on every block, the act created a complex patchwork of public and private entities, which in some cases sustained existing centers, and in others allowed communities to set up new ones.”
According to a report by the Congressional Research Service, even at the outset of the program the “need for the child care centers was estimated to be much greater than the services provided.” Nevertheless, it was an extraordinary accomplishment:
“The wartime child care programs were locally planned… Overall, as many as 635 communities across the nation were granted funds to operate one or more centers. Projects included programs for preschool and school-age children. In July 1944, when the wartime child care program reached its apex, 52,440 preschoolers and 76,917 school-age children were enrolled.”
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By mid-1945 it was clear that the Allies had won the war. The prevailing male sentiment was that it was time for Rosie the Riveter and her female factory colleagues to pack up and go back home. They were urged to take their “traditional” place in the kitchen and give the factory jobs back to men. And to make sure the women did that, politicians immediately slashed funds for national day care, quickly dismantling the program. Pushback ensued. Women and children demonstrated in the streets. There were write-in campaigns, according to the CRS report:
“Approximately one month after this announcement, the FWA [Federal Works Agency] reported it had received communications from 26 states and the District of Columbia (1,155 letters, 318 wires, 794 postcards and petitions signed by 3,647 individuals), urging continuation of the program. Principal reasons given were the need of servicemen’s wives to continue employment until their husbands returned, the ongoing need of mothers who were the sole support of their children, and a lack of inadequacy of other forms of care in the community.”
Nevertheless, sexism and discrimination prevailed. Within a few short years most of the national day care program had been wiped out. Vestiges remained through the 1960s, mostly in California. Then the national day care program was entirely gone.
So here we are today. Day care woes abound. Tax breaks and other marginal incentives of today cannot build a national day care program. However, eight decades ago the Federal Works Agency did. We have the precedent and the need but lack politicians with the vision.
Boaters anchor in Juneau’s harbor to watch its Fourth of July fireworks. (Heather Bryant/KTOO)
The Fourth of July often brings thoughts of festive celebrations like parades, picnics and fireworks, but what does honoring the nation’s independence mean? What are our rights, but also our responsibilities to a healthy democracy? How do you reflect on what freedom means, and what’s the best way for us all to move forward as a united nation? We discuss historical and philosophical context on our democracy and what freedom requires of us all on this next Talk of Alaska.
HOST: Lori Townsend
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GUESTS:
Dr. Terry Kelly – Associate Professor & Chair of Philosophy, University of Alaska Anchorage
Sam Woolsey – Social Studies Teacher, Bettye Davis East High School
PARTICIPATE:
Call 907-550-8422 (Anchorage) or 1-800-478-8255 (statewide) during the live broadcast
Send an email to talk@alaskapublic.org (comments may be read on air)
Post your comment before, during or after the live broadcast (comments may be read on air).
LIVE Broadcast: Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. on APRN stations statewide.
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Lori Townsend is the news director and senior host for Alaska Public Media. You can send her news tips and program ideas for Talk of Alaska and Alaska Insight at ltownsend@alaskapublic.org or call 907-550-8452.
This winter, we’re expanding our guests’ options with nonstop service to two exciting international destinations
Alaska Airlines is excited to announce an expansion of our international network with two new Mexico destinations starting this winter. We’ll soon start flying between Los Angeles and breathtaking La Paz, as the only U.S. carrier serving the coastal Mexican destination. We’ll also become the only U.S. airline to offer daily nonstop flights between Los Angeles and the bustling city of Monterrey when we begin service in February.
During the winter months, our guests search for warm-weather travel destinations. Our new nonstop service to La Paz (LAP) and Monterrey (MTY) caters to that demand by offering our guests the perfect escape to sunny skies, a vibrant city experience and warm hospitality. It’s never too early to start booking your winter vacation. Tickets are available starting the afternoon of July 3 on alaskaair.com.
We recently celebrated 35 years of service to Mexico and are proud to connect travelers with the rich culture and natural beauty of the country. We look forward to continuing to serve as the carrier of choice from the West Coast, especially as we prepare to start service to these popular destinations in Mexico,” said Kirsten Amrine, vice president of revenue management and network planning at Alaska Airlines.
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We’re proud to be the #1 U.S. carrier with the most flights, seats and nonstop routes to Mexico from the West Coast. This announcement continues our longstanding commitment and plans for growth in the region.
Our new nonstop service to LAP and MTY from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) enables guests to easily connect from cities across our network. From our hub at LAX, we continue to offer the most flights to the most destinations across Latin America and the Caribbean of any carrier – which includes almost 16 average daily departures this winter to 15 cities throughout the region.
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La Paz, Mexico
This year, we will become the only carrier offering nonstop service between the United States and La Paz where you’ll find some of the world’s best diving and sport fishing. We’re excited to offer flights year-round with service up to three times weekly.
“We appreciate Alaska Airlines’ confidence in investing in the virtues of La Paz and providing it with the opportunity to expand its borders by connecting with the United States. Especially with its flight to Los Angeles, California, which we are sure will be a success,” said Maribel Collins, minister of tourism and economy of Baja California Sur. “For the Government of Baja California Sur, tourism is one of the pillars that drives the state’s economy. Therefore, we are highly committed to promoting actions that benefit this important sector through our tourism trusts, which day by day seek alliances for the benefit of all.”
“Connecting La Paz with Los Angeles is an important step for internationalizing this airport which has grown passengers significantly over the past three years. We thank Alaska Airlines for offering this flight to one of the most beautiful destinations in Mexico and look forward to welcoming travelers to La Paz and continuing to provide greater ease for foreign tourists to visit this city,” said Raúl Revuelta Musalem, CEO of the Pacific Airport Group.
Monterrey, Mexico
We’re adding daily service from Los Angeles to Monterrey, Mexico’s second-largest metro area. The popular destination offers dramatic peaks of the Sierra Madre Oriental Mountain range and a vibrant food scene, including several Michelin-starred restaurants. Immerse yourself in history with a visit to one of the city’s many museums or satisfy your love for the outdoors with a visit to the Huasteca Canyon, a popular rock climbing area located on the outskirts of the city.
We are pleased to announce that Alaska Airlines will begin operations from Monterrey Airport to Los Angeles, expanding its services from our airports along with Mazatlan and Zihuatanejo,” said Ricardo Dueñas, CEO of Grupo Aeroportuario del Centro Norte. “Through LAX, this new route will offer access to new destinations on the West Coast, as we continue to increase international connectivity from Monterrey to meet both business and leisure travel demand.”
Whether traveling for pleasure or business, our guests can take advantage of a premium travel experience on any Alaska flight with no change fees, the most legroom in First Class* and Premium Class, the most generous Mileage Plan with the fastest path to elite status, high-quality West Coast-inspired food and a premium selection of beverages. Our guests can also buy tickets and earn Mileage Plan miles with our domestic and Global Partners directly at alaskair.com.
Alaska Airlines is making it easier for you to plan your next trip while saving money and earning Mileage Plan miles. Bundle flights, hotels, car rentals and experiences at Alaska Vacations, find deals car rentals on Alaska Car Rentals and book your next adventure while earning 4 miles for every $1 spent on GetYourGuide.
*Out of any U.S. legacy airline excluding lie-flat seats
