Alaska Airlines ’ roots trace back to 1932, when Linious “Mac” McGee and Harvey Barnhill began operating charter flights between Anchorage and Bristol Bay using a single three-seat Stinson aircraft. Despite its ambition, the small airline faced the constant challenge of serving a less populated and highly seasonal market. Around the same time, another operator, Star Air Service, was established in Anchorage by three pilots that were offering flight instruction and charters. The two companies eventually merged in 1934, forming the foundation for what would become Alaska Airlines.

From its beginnings as a regional carrier serving remote Alaskan communities, the airline gradually expanded across the West Coast and, after deregulation in 1978, it expanded its presence significantly and is n

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