STARLUX Airlines celebrates launch of Seattle-Taipei route

Taiwan-based luxury carrier STARLUX Airlines’ inaugural flight to Seattle, its third US gateway after Los Angeles and San Francisco, touched down to a water cannon salute at 4:15pm on Saturday 17 August. The launch of nonstop flights from Seattle to Taipei and the expansion of the carrier's transpacific routes reaffirms its dedication to growing its US network. With its arrival at the hub of partner Alaska Airlines, STARLUX enables seamless connectivity from more than 100 cities to Seattle and onward to Taipei and 23 Asian destinations. 

For the new route from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE), STARLUX flies its next-generation Airbus A350-900. STARLUX initially offers three flights weekly and is expected to ramp up to daily from the beginning of next year. 

Below is the weekly schedule:

Flight	Route	Weekly Schedule	Departure Time	Arrival Time
JX031	SEA-TPE	Every Monday, Thursday, Saturday	02:10	05:10 +1
JX032	TPE-SEA	Every Wednesday, Friday, Sunday	20:00	16:15
*Note: Flight number and schedule may change without prior notice.

Alaska Airlines believes in JetZero's flying wing design for the future of passenger flight....

Alaska Airlines has set its sights on future aircraft development at JetZero's blended-wing body aircraft that will, according to the hype, provide up to 50% less fuel burn and lower emissions. The innovative design in which the fuselage and wings are merged into a single shape will, they say, greatly reduce aerodynamic drag. This will result in lower fuel costs and also lower carbon emissions. Plus, the carrier will be able to come up with unique seating arrangements that are simply not possible with the tube and wings design of the current aircraft designs. 

Tom O’Leary, CEO and co-founder, JetZero, "The biggest challenge for airlines is lowering fuel burn and emissions. Of all the great new technologies in work, the BWB design delivers the biggest impact by far. Airlines will see immediate benefit in cost savings, dramatically lower emissions and improved customer experience, compared to aeroplanes flying today. We’re thrilled to welcome Alaska to our team of innovators, and our belief that this aircraft will reshape aviation."

Diana Birkett Rakow, senior vice president of public affairs and sustainability at Alaska Airlines said: "At Alaska, we are always looking for ways to innovate and shape the future of air travel for our guests, employees, and industry. - We are proud to invest in JetZero’s development of this innovative next-generation aircraft, with a significant step-change in fuel efficiency. We and JetZero share a vision for more sustainable aviation, and we are excited to partner with them in creating that future."

The investment in JetZero, which includes options for future aircraft orders, was made through Alaska Star Ventures (ASV), the airline’s investment arm whose purpose is to influence the future of the aviation industry.

 

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Alaska Airlines celebrates the opening of Portland’s new terminal....

Alaska Airlines has been celebrating the grand opening of its beautifully renovated, world-class terminal at Portland International Airport, which has been years in the making. 

The carrier has also confirmed that Portland is the first location where they are using new proprietary and innovative technology and processes to transform the airport experience and move passengers more seamlessly through the lobby and into security in five minutes or less. 

Shane Jones, senior vice president of fleet, revenue products and real estate at Alaska Airlines stated:  “As our second largest hub, Portland is an essential part of Alaska’s future. Our deep collaboration and joint investment with the Port of Portland on this new world-class terminal highlights our focus on improving how our guests travel.”

Charu Jain, senior vice president of innovation and merchandising at the carrier remarked: “With nearly 90% of our passengers now checking in before they arrive at the airport, we’ve launched our lobby of the future experience in Portland which simplifies dropping off bags and gets guests quickly through the lobby so they can enjoy everything the new terminal has to offer,”

Alaska Airlines has been the largest carrier in Portland for more than 20 years and the presence at the airport continues to expand — Alaska and Horizon Air flights have increased by 17% from 2023 to 2024. That translates to 110 peak daily flights to 55 nonstop destinations from PDX, with 29 of those locations served exclusively by Alaska, providing a crucial transportation link to smaller cities and communities. The airline recently started a new nonstop service to Miami and Nashville from PDX, and in the coming months, they will be adding nonstop flights to Atlanta and New Orleans. 

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New first class menu for Alaska Airlines......

Alaska Airlines has launched a new exciting chef partnership for its first-class passengers' dining experience with a collaboration with Brandon Jew, the acclaimed chef and owner of San Francisco’s Michelin-starred Mister Jiu’s restaurant.

A new exclusive menu for passengers seated in First Class between San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). 

From today, Alaska Air's guests will be able to preorder from the special menu, which features a series of Chef Jew’s signature dishes, including his take on the classic Chinese breakfast porridge known as congee, black cod cooked to perfection with a side of silken tofu and tender slow-braised duck served with savoury sesame egg noodles.

Using the same high-quality poultry from Liberty Farms in Sonoma County that is featured at Mister Jiu’s as their trademark Peking Style Whole Roast Duck, as well as other Michelin-rated restaurants around the world. Each First Class dish was exquisitely crafted by Chef Jew, who is known for blending local and seasonal produce from the San Francisco Bay Area with classic Chinese techniques and flavours. The results are exquisite dishes that are both nostalgic and creative. 

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Alaska Airlines unveils stunning lounge in San Francisco

Alaska Airlines is proud to announce the grand opening of its newest Alaska Lounge at San Francisco International Airport’s Harvey Milk Terminal 1. The modern and spacious 11,000-square-foot space delivers on our promise to enhance our network of lounges and offers an unparalleled pre-flight experience with a welcoming West Coast vibe, open spaces bathed in natural light and warm finishes.

“Today’s unveiling of our elegantly designed Lounge at SFO represents the culmination of over two years of dedicated commitment to enhance the way we care for our guests,” said Sangita Woerner, senior vice president of Marketing and Guest Experience at Alaska Airlines. “Our Lounges redefine the premium travel experience, providing top-tier amenities and ample space to escape the hustle and bustle of the airport, whether you’re travelling with Alaska or our oneworld and global airline partners.”

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Alaska Airlines announces major expansion of First Class and Premium seating

This expansion will add 1.3 million premium seats annually to Alaska's mainline fleet, providing passengers with even more opportunities to upgrade to a premium experience  Starting in September, Alaska Airlines will begin rolling out additional First Class and Premium Class seating across more than 200 aircraft, including 900ERs, 800s and MAX9s. This expansion will add 1.3 million premium seats annually to the mainline fleet. Earlier this year, the carrier successfully retrofitted its entire regional fleet, adding 400,000 Premium Class seats to the Embraer E175 aircraft.

New seating configuration 737-800 (current—new)

New seating configuration 737-900ER / MAX9 (current—new)

More First Class and Premium seating   By increasing the number of seats available in these classes, Alaska are making it easier than ever for passengers to upgrade while also meeting the growing demand for premium seating.  First Class  In partnership with RECARO, Alaska Airlines further enhances its offering to provide passengers with ultimate comfort seats that are featured in the new First Class seats that have been installed on the Boeing 737-800 fleet. These new seats offer the most legroom and features include a calf rest, new seatback device holder, 6-way headrest with neck support and USB-C charging capabilities.

Premium Class & Main Cabin  In Main Cabin and Premium Class of the 737-800 fleet, passengers will continue to experience comfort and convenience at every seat with improved features, including new device holders with built in cup holders, USB-C charging and a 6-way headrest with dedicated neck support.  As the airline modifies the 737-900ER fleet to increase Premium Class by converting six of the Main Cabin seats, these aircraft will receive an interior refresh, bringing modern touches like device holders in the main cabin to the backbone of our fleet. All 737 MAX 9 aircraft, among the newest in the fleet, will also get six additional seats converted to their Premium cabins, enhancing the comfort and luxury the airline offers customers.

Alaska Airlines expands winter travel options to launch 18 exciting new sun and ski routes

Alaska Airlines has decided to enhance its winter schedule with the launch of 18 new nonstop routes to key sunny international destinations and some wonderful winter wonderland retreats. Included in the raft of new routes are a number from Sacramento and Kansas City. 

Kirsten Amrine, vice president of network planning and revenue management at Alaska Airlines said:  "We’re thrilled to offer convenient connection for guests across our network with this expansion – whether checking destinations off their bucket lists or setting off to their favourite winter getaways, we’ve put together an exciting range of options from tropical destinations across Mexico to the most popular ski slopes in North America."

New Winter Routes in Order of Start Date:

*Frequency varies—see AlaskaAir.com for the latest schedule information

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Alaska Airlines honours US military with newest aircraft livery

As the USA celebrates Independence Day, Alaska Airlines has unveiled its latest livery as a tribute to service members past and present. 

In partnership with Boeing, the airline was proud to unveil the specially designed “Honoring Those Who Serve” aircraft. The design, which is almost identical to three other jets, features a new patriotic paint scheme with symbolic imagery representing all six branches of the US Armed Forces: Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Space Force.

From its star-spangled design to the heartfelt message emblazoned on its side, this aircraft is a flying tribute to the courage and dedication of those who serve today, and those who served in the past. 

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Alaska Airlines launches seasonal, daily flight between Portland and New Orleans

Alaska Airlines is continuing to expand the destinations it flies from Portland with the launch of the first nonstop flight to New Orleans beginning this January. The daily service will operate until next spring, including during Mardi Gras -- New Orleans’ largest annual celebration.

“As the largest carrier in Portland for more than 20 years, it’s important we continue to expand the nonstop destinations we offer our guests and give them choices when planning their next trip,” said Kirsten Amrine, vice president of revenue management and network planning for Alaska Airlines. “We can’t wait to offer another convenient way to connect our guests along the West Coast to New Orleans, a city rich in history and culture.”

The vibrant city of New Orleans will be Alaska’s 55th nonstop destination from Portland International Airport when service begins in January. The daily flight will conveniently depart PDX in the morning on the mainline fleet aircraft and return to Portland in the evening.

“Alaska’s continued investment in PDX is great news for our travel community. Until now, New Orleans was one of the largest U.S. markets without a nonstop from PDX,” said Dan Pippenger, chief aviation officer at the Port of Portland. “Tens of thousands of travelers already fly between these two great cities every year, and we expect that number to only grow with this new nonstop service.

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Portland – New Orleans service
Seasonal service: 1/6/25 to 5/14/25 

City Pair	Departs	Arrives	Frequency	Aircraft
Portland – New Orleans	9:05 a.m.	3:30 p.m.	Daily	737
New Orleans – Portland	4:35 p.m.	7:50 p.m.

* Out of any U.S. legacy airline excluding lie-flat seats     

Alaska Airlines adds new routes in Southern California

Starting this autumn, Alaska Airlines will be adding new nonstop routes from San Diego and Los Angeles... 

       Alaska Airlines is expanding service at two of its major hubs in Southern California with new routes and additional capacity to popular West Coast destinations as part of the carrier’s ongoing commitment to growth in the state. 

 

Starting in the autumn season, the airline is adding its 39th nonstop destination from San Diego with service to Las Vegas. Plus, starting a new service between Los Angeles and Pasco. The carrier is also bringing back the route between Los Angeles and Reno. 

The airline is adding more flights to destinations its already offers out of Los Angeles International Airport, boosting capacity by more than 25%, including destinations such as Boise, Medford, Portland, San Jose, Santa Rosa and Seattle.

“As the only airline based on the West Coast, we’re committed to growth in Southern California, and I’m excited that we will offer our largest schedule out of the region in recent years; with our new services from Los Angeles to both Reno and Pasco as well as increased options to the destinations our guests visit most frequently. This new schedule also solidifies our title as the airline serving the most nonstop destinations from San Diego with our new service to Las Vegas,” said Neil Thwaites, regional vice president of California at Alaska Airlines.

“We are pleased to see Alaska Airlines continue to grow at San Diego International Airport and offer new routes to destinations across the country,” said Kimberly Becker, president and CEO of San Diego County Regional Airport Authority. “This new nonstop route to Las Vegas will offer yet another option for Southern Californians to travel to this city of lights and entertainment while providing Nevadans easy access to our beaches and sunshine in San Diego.”

Alaska Access: A new subscription service by Alaska Airlines to save on travel planning and costs,

Alaska Airlines to offer a bundle of exclusive deals with Alaska Access, a new subscription offer that includes discounted Wi-Fi plus more cost-saving tools

Alaska Airlines is launching a new subscription program for savvy, price-conscious guests that will save them time and money throughout the year. Starting today, travellers can sign up for Alaska Access at just $5 per month to take advantage of exclusive savings.

Immediately after sign-up, subscribers will receive their first monthly voucher to Alaska’s inflight streaming-fast satellite Wi-Fi. Benefits also include advanced alerts to some of our biggest fare sales of the year. Subscribers will be notified the night before a sale is announced to take advantage of huge savings and seat selection. Alaska Access also offers a calendar view of the lowest fares that are tailored to subscribers' favourite destinations, so they never miss out on the best deals.

“We know time is valuable for our guests who are busy balancing a lot in their lives and we kept that in mind when we developed Alaska Access,” said Shane Jones, vice president of business development at Alaska Airlines, “Alaska Access is part of our commitment to make travel more affordable and convenient for everyone – whether planning for your dream vacation or returning home from college. Our new subscription service allows you to discover some of our best deals of the year right at your fingertips, in just minutes.”  

Alaska was the first U.S. airline to introduce a subscription service to travellers in 2022 when it launched Flight Pass. Responding to the continued shift in consumer demand for personalized and tailored experiences, the carrier seeks to open up a new revenue stream with Alaska Access. 

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Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 jet suffers cracked window upon landing

US media is reporting that the inner windscreen of an Alaska Airlines  Boeing 737-800 aircraft cracked as it landed in Portland, Oregon over the weekend.

The jet had performed a flight from Washington DC and whilst on approach the flight deck crew became aware of a crack in the inner windscreen.  Alaska Airlines said the crew "followed their checklists and the aircraft continued safely to its destination as scheduled."  

In a statement to U.S. media, Alaska Air confirmed the aircraft was "outfitted with five-layer windscreens that have an outer pane, three inner layers and an inner pane. If an inner pane cracks, the other pane and layers can maintain cabin pressure. The aircraft will be inspected and repaired by engineers on the ground."

The plane was carrying 159 passengers and six crew at the time of the incident and the windscreen layer has been repaired and the jet is now put back in service. 

Hawaiian Holdings Stockholders approve of takeover by Alaska Air Group

Hawaiian Holdings, the parent of Hawaiian Airlines has confirmed this week that its stockholders have voted to agree to the takeover by the Alaska Air Group.  To save face, the management is calling it a merger and advised that the substantial majority of the holders of Hawaiian’s stock voted in favour of the merger, according to preliminary results from the special meeting held on Friday. Hawaiian will file the final voting results, as tabulated by an independent inspector of elections, on a Form 8-K with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Stockholder approval of our transaction with Alaska is an important milestone toward combining our airlines,” said Hawaiian Airlines President and CEO Peter Ingram. “Together, we will bring stronger competition to the U.S. airline industry, deliver more value to our guests and the communities that we serve, and provide greater job opportunities for our employees.”

The transaction remains subject to receipt of required regulatory approvals, along with other customary closing conditions. Hawaiian and Alaska continue to expect to complete the transaction within 12 to 18 months of the announcement of the transaction, which occurred on 3rd December 2023.

Your travel planning isn’t complete without learning the language—or at least some essential phrases. Fully immerse yourself in the language, or use Phrasebook to learn travel essentials—the choice is yours!