TODAY I GOT AN INSIDE
VIEW OF THAT FUTURE
FROM THE CEO OF VIEW OF THAT FUTURE
FROM THE CEO OF
SEATTLE-BASED ALASKA FROM THE CEO OF
SEATTLE-BASED ALASKA
AIRLINES. SEATTLE-BASED ALASKA
AIRLINES.
EARLY MORNING AT AIRLINES.
EARLY MORNING AT
SEA-TAC AND THE LINES EARLY MORNING AT
SEA-TAC AND THE LINES
TO CHECK IN ARE SEA-TAC AND THE LINES
TO CHECK IN ARE
GROWING. TO CHECK IN ARE
GROWING.
>> YOURE GOING TO BE GROWING.
>> YOURE GOING TO BE
AT NUMBER 3 TO THE >> YOURE GOING TO BE
AT NUMBER 3 TO THE
LEFT.
AT NUMBER 3 TO THE LEFT. >> Reporter: WHILE THE LEFT. >> Reporter: WHILE THE VACCINE HAS LEFT TO A >> Reporter: WHILE THE VACCINE HAS LEFT TO A RUSH OF TRIPS TO VACCINE HAS LEFT TO A RUSH OF TRIPS TO REUNITE WITH FAMILY RUSH OF TRIPS TO REUNITE WITH FAMILY AND LEISURE TRAVEL HAS REUNITE WITH FAMILY AND LEISURE TRAVEL HAS BROUGHT CROWDS BACK TO AND LEISURE TRAVEL HAS BROUGHT CROWDS BACK TO THE AIRPORT, ITS BROUGHT CROWDS BACK TO THE AIRPORT, ITS BUSINESS TRAVEL THAT THE AIRPORT, ITS BUSINESS TRAVEL THAT THE AIRLINES BUSINESS TRAVEL THAT THE AIRLINES DESPERATELY NEED TO THE AIRLINES DESPERATELY NEED TO MAKE MONEY. DESPERATELY NEED TO MAKE MONEY. >> FIRST TIME IVE MAKE MONEY. >> FIRST TIME IVE BEEN AT AN AIRPORT IN >> FIRST TIME IVE BEEN AT AN AIRPORT IN A YEAR. BEEN AT AN AIRPORT IN A YEAR. >> Reporter: SALESMAN A YEAR. >> Reporter: SALESMAN DAVID ANABAL IS JUST >> Reporter: SALESMAN DAVID ANABAL IS JUST NOW RETURNING TO THE DAVID ANABAL IS JUST NOW RETURNING TO THE SKIES.
NOW RETURNING TO THE SKIES. LIKE MANY HE WILL SKIES. LIKE MANY HE WILL TRAVEL LESS AND LIKE MANY HE WILL TRAVEL LESS AND CONTINUE WITH VIRTUAL TRAVEL LESS AND CONTINUE WITH VIRTUAL MEETINGS, A COST CONTINUE WITH VIRTUAL MEETINGS, A COST SAVINGS. MEETINGS, A COST SAVINGS. >> I WILL TRAVEL MORE SAVINGS. >> I WILL TRAVEL MORE THAN I DID DURING THE >> I WILL TRAVEL MORE THAN I DID DURING THE PANDEMIC. THAN I DID DURING THE PANDEMIC. I WILL TRAVEL LESS PANDEMIC. I WILL TRAVEL LESS THAN I DID PRIOR. I WILL TRAVEL LESS THAN I DID PRIOR. >> Reporter: WHILE THAN I DID PRIOR. >> Reporter: WHILE THEY HAVE SEEN AN >> Reporter: WHILE THEY HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN LEISURE THEY HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN LEISURE TRAVEL, 80% OF INCREASE IN LEISURE TRAVEL, 80% OF PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS, TRAVEL, 80% OF PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS, ALASKA AIRLINES SAW PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS, ALASKA AIRLINES SAW JUST 25% OF ITS NORMAL ALASKA AIRLINES SAW JUST 25% OF ITS NORMAL BUSINESS TRAVEL IN THE JUST 25% OF ITS NORMAL BUSINESS TRAVEL IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE BUSINESS TRAVEL IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE YEAR.
FIRST QUARTER OF THE YEAR. THE CARRIER IS HOPEFUL YEAR. THE CARRIER IS HOPEFUL IT WILL SEE THAT THE CARRIER IS HOPEFUL IT WILL SEE THAT DOUBLE BY YEARS END. IT WILL SEE THAT DOUBLE BY YEARS END. NEW CEO BEN MINICUCCI, DOUBLE BY YEARS END. NEW CEO BEN MINICUCCI, JUST TWO MONTHS INTO NEW CEO BEN MINICUCCI, JUST TWO MONTHS INTO THE JOB, IS JUST TWO MONTHS INTO THE JOB, IS OPTIMISTIC. THE JOB, IS OPTIMISTIC. THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY OPTIMISTIC. THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY TOOK A BEATING LAST THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY TOOK A BEATING LAST YEAR. TOOK A BEATING LAST YEAR. AND THIS YEAR ISNT YEAR. AND THIS YEAR ISNT ALL THAT PRETTY. AND THIS YEAR ISNT ALL THAT PRETTY. HOWS THE HEALTH OF ALL THAT PRETTY. HOWS THE HEALTH OF THE AIRLINE? HOWS THE HEALTH OF THE AIRLINE? >> WITH THE PACE OF THE AIRLINE? >> WITH THE PACE OF VACCINATIONS >> WITH THE PACE OF VACCINATIONS INCREASING, WE SAW VACCINATIONS INCREASING, WE SAW SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN INCREASING, WE SAW SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN MARCH.
SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN MARCH. WE ACTUALLY FOR THE MARCH. WE ACTUALLY FOR THE FIRST TIME ACHIEVED WE ACTUALLY FOR THE FIRST TIME ACHIEVED POSITIVE OPERATING FIRST TIME ACHIEVED POSITIVE OPERATING CASH FLOW IN MARCH POSITIVE OPERATING CASH FLOW IN MARCH AFTER 12 MONTHS OF CASH FLOW IN MARCH AFTER 12 MONTHS OF BURNING CASH. AFTER 12 MONTHS OF BURNING CASH. SO THINGS ARE LOOKING BURNING CASH. SO THINGS ARE LOOKING MORE OPTIMISTIC. SO THINGS ARE LOOKING MORE OPTIMISTIC. LEISURE BOOKINGS ARE MORE OPTIMISTIC. LEISURE BOOKINGS ARE STRONG. LEISURE BOOKINGS ARE STRONG. ALMOST TO PRE-PANDEMIC STRONG. ALMOST TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS. ALMOST TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS. >> Reporter: COMPANIES LEVELS. >> Reporter: COMPANIES SURVEYED LAST SUMMER >> Reporter: COMPANIES SURVEYED LAST SUMMER SHOWED GREAT HESITANCY SURVEYED LAST SUMMER SHOWED GREAT HESITANCY IN ALLOWING TRAVEL, SHOWED GREAT HESITANCY IN ALLOWING TRAVEL, WITH 72% SAYING THEY IN ALLOWING TRAVEL, WITH 72% SAYING THEY WOULD LIMIT TRIPS. WITH 72% SAYING THEY WOULD LIMIT TRIPS. BUT NOW AS MORE PEOPLE WOULD LIMIT TRIPS. BUT NOW AS MORE PEOPLE ARE VACCINATED A BUT NOW AS MORE PEOPLE ARE VACCINATED A RECENT STUDY SAYS 84% ARE VACCINATED A RECENT STUDY SAYS 84% OF BUSINESS TRAVELS RECENT STUDY SAYS 84% OF BUSINESS TRAVELS SAY THEY CANNOT WAIT OF BUSINESS TRAVELS SAY THEY CANNOT WAIT TO TRAVEL AGAIN SAY THEY CANNOT WAIT TO TRAVEL AGAIN WITHOUT FEAR OF TO TRAVEL AGAIN WITHOUT FEAR OF GETTING COVID.
WITHOUT FEAR OF GETTING COVID. MOST SAY THEY HAVE GETTING COVID. MOST SAY THEY HAVE MISSED BUSINESS MOST SAY THEY HAVE MISSED BUSINESS TRAVEL. MISSED BUSINESS TRAVEL. >> ALASKA FLIGHT 93. TRAVEL. >> ALASKA FLIGHT 93. >> I THINK I CAN >> ALASKA FLIGHT 93. >> I THINK I CAN EASILY SAY IVE SPENT >> I THINK I CAN EASILY SAY IVE SPENT MORE HOURS ON VIDEO EASILY SAY IVE SPENT MORE HOURS ON VIDEO CONFERENCING ONEING THAN I MORE HOURS ON VIDEO CONFERENCING ONEING THAN I HAVE IN THE SEATS OF CONFERENCING ONEING THAN I HAVE IN THE SEATS OF AIRPLANES. HAVE IN THE SEATS OF AIRPLANES. ARE YOU WORRIED THAT AIRPLANES. ARE YOU WORRIED THAT MAY BE THE MODEL GOING ARE YOU WORRIED THAT MAY BE THE MODEL GOING FORWARD? MAY BE THE MODEL GOING FORWARD? >> MAYBE SIX MONTHS FORWARD? >> MAYBE SIX MONTHS AGO I WAS WORRIED.
>> MAYBE SIX MONTHS AGO I WAS WORRIED. BUT I THINK THE MORE AGO I WAS WORRIED. BUT I THINK THE MORE WE GET INTO IT WE BUT I THINK THE MORE WE GET INTO IT WE REALIZE THAT PEOPLE WE GET INTO IT WE REALIZE THAT PEOPLE NEED THAT HUMAN REALIZE THAT PEOPLE NEED THAT HUMAN INTERACTION. NEED THAT HUMAN INTERACTION. I THINK COMPANIES FEEL INTERACTION. I THINK COMPANIES FEEL LIKE YOU STILL NEED I THINK COMPANIES FEEL LIKE YOU STILL NEED THAT FACE TO FACE. LIKE YOU STILL NEED THAT FACE TO FACE. I THINK ITS GOING TO THAT FACE TO FACE. I THINK ITS GOING TO COME BACK. I THINK ITS GOING TO COME BACK. >> WOULD IT BE YOUR COME BACK. >> WOULD IT BE YOUR HOPE THAT THE >> WOULD IT BE YOUR HOPE THAT THE GOVERNMENT EVENTUALLY HOPE THAT THE GOVERNMENT EVENTUALLY DROP THE MASK GOVERNMENT EVENTUALLY DROP THE MASK REQUIREMENT ON DROP THE MASK REQUIREMENT ON AIRPLANES? REQUIREMENT ON AIRPLANES? >> ABSOLUTELY.
AIRPLANES? >> ABSOLUTELY. I THINK AS >> ABSOLUTELY. I THINK AS VACCINATIONS INCREASE I THINK AS VACCINATIONS INCREASE I THINK WEVE PROVEN VACCINATIONS INCREASE I THINK WEVE PROVEN SCIENTIFICALLY THAT I THINK WEVE PROVEN SCIENTIFICALLY THAT THE ENVIRONMENT ON SCIENTIFICALLY THAT THE ENVIRONMENT ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT IS THE ENVIRONMENT ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT IS SAFE. BOARD THE AIRCRAFT IS SAFE. YOU KNOW, WITH HEPA SAFE. YOU KNOW, WITH HEPA FILTERS AND THE WAY YOU KNOW, WITH HEPA FILTERS AND THE WAY THE AIR CIRCULATES ON FILTERS AND THE WAY THE AIR CIRCULATES ON THE AIRPLANE, IM THE AIR CIRCULATES ON THE AIRPLANE, IM HOPING THE GOVERNMENT THE AIRPLANE, IM HOPING THE GOVERNMENT DOES RELAX THAT HOPING THE GOVERNMENT DOES RELAX THAT POLICY.
DOES RELAX THAT POLICY. BUT FOR NOW IT IS A POLICY. BUT FOR NOW IT IS A FEDERALLY MANDATED BUT FOR NOW IT IS A FEDERALLY MANDATED REQUIREMENT AND WELL FEDERALLY MANDATED REQUIREMENT AND WELL COMPLY WITH THAT. REQUIREMENT AND WELL COMPLY WITH THAT. >> Reporter: A LOOMING COMPLY WITH THAT. >> Reporter: A LOOMING PILOT SHORTAGE IS A >> Reporter: A LOOMING PILOT SHORTAGE IS A CONCERN FOR AIRLINES PILOT SHORTAGE IS A CONCERN FOR AIRLINES WORLDWIDE. CONCERN FOR AIRLINES WORLDWIDE. EXPERTS SAY THERE WORLDWIDE. EXPERTS SAY THERE COULD BE AS MANY AS EXPERTS SAY THERE COULD BE AS MANY AS 34,000 OPEN COCKPIT COULD BE AS MANY AS 34,000 OPEN COCKPIT SEATS. 34,000 OPEN COCKPIT SEATS. IN THE U.S. AN AGING SEATS. IN THE U.S. AN AGING WORKFORCE FACING IN THE U.S. AN AGING WORKFORCE FACING MANDATORY RETIREMENT WORKFORCE FACING MANDATORY RETIREMENT AT 65. MANDATORY RETIREMENT AT 65. YOU HAVE A SISTER AT 65.
YOU HAVE A SISTER AIRLINE HERE, HORIZON. YOU HAVE A SISTER AIRLINE HERE, HORIZON. HOW IS THAT ALLOWING AIRLINE HERE, HORIZON. HOW IS THAT ALLOWING YOU TO MAKE CONFRONT HOW IS THAT ALLOWING YOU TO MAKE CONFRONT THIS PILOT SHORTAGE YOU TO MAKE CONFRONT THIS PILOT SHORTAGE BEFORE IT BITES YOU? THIS PILOT SHORTAGE BEFORE IT BITES YOU? >> WE STARTED BEFORE IT BITES YOU? >> WE STARTED SOMETHING CALLED THE >> WE STARTED SOMETHING CALLED THE PATHWAYS PROGRAM SOMETHING CALLED THE PATHWAYS PROGRAM SEVERAL YEARS AGO, AND PATHWAYS PROGRAM SEVERAL YEARS AGO, AND THE PURPOSE OF THE SEVERAL YEARS AGO, AND