Alaska Airlines is represented in New Zealand by World Aviation Systems

ALASKA AIRLINES HISTORY

Alaska Airlines traces its roots to McGee Airways, which inaugurated service between Anchorage and Bristol Bay, Alaska in 1932 with a single-engine, three-passenger plane.

Over the years, mergers and acquisitions produced changes in the name of the airline and saw business expand throughout Alaska and the Lower 48. The Alaska Airlines name was adopted in 1944. Alaska's sister carrier, Horizon Air, was founded in September 1981 in Seattle to serve communities on routes vacated by larger airlines after the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978.

Through growth and acquisitions, Horizon Air expanded its route system from Washington throughout the Pacific Northwest and Canada.
In 1985, Alaska Air Group was formed as a holding company for Alaska Airlines. A year later, the holding company acquired Horizon Air Industries(which continues to operate as a separate company) and Jet America Airlines of Long Beach, Calif., which merged into Alaska Airlines on Oct 1,1987