AK-WA Connection 2012: Alaska Airlines wins industry service award

Air Transport World magazine has honored Alaska Airlines with the Joseph S. Murphy Industry Service Award for its outstanding public and community service. The Seattle-based carrier is the only North American airline to be honored by the magazine and the first U.S. carrier to win the service award. “The Joseph S. Murphy Award honors an individual or organization that makes the airline industry a better place,” said Geoffrey Thomas, the magazine’s chief editor. “Alaska Airlines, through its numerous environmental and corporate-giving initiatives, has benefited the people and communities in which it serves, as well as has brought credit to the industry as a whole.” The magazine cited Alaska Airlines’ industry service record and technology and customer innovations, such as its work on satellite-based navigation procedures that are part of the Federal Aviation Administration’s NextGen air traffic control system. Air Transport World also noted that Alaska’s employees volunteered more than 8,000 hours in 2010, and that Alaska gave $5.6 million to organizations including the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Angel Flight West, Special Olympics and Shriners Hospital for Children. Other 2011 winners include Air New Zealand (Airline of the Year), AirAsia (Value Airline of the Year); QantasLink (Regional Airline of the Year); All Nippon Airways (Airline Technology Leadership); former IATA DG Giovanni Bisignani (Decade of Excellence); Etihad Airways (Passenger Service); and Transaero Airlines. The Wall Street Journal also ranked Alaska Airlines No. 1 in operational performance for 2011 in its annual “Middle Seat” scorecard.