Alaska Airlines: staying connected and giving back.

• Author: White, Rindi
• Position: Special section: 2012 CORPORATE 100 - Geographic overview - Company overview

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Alaska Airlines was founded in 1932 as an in-state airline, carrying cargo and passengers in and out of Anchorage in a three-passenger Stinson airplane under the name "McGee Airways." Eighty years later, the airline has routes crisscrossing North America and is preparing for further growth.

Although it is now considered a major carrier and is the seventh largest airline in the United States in terms of passenger traffic, Alaska Airlines remains rooted in its home state.

The company's corporate headquarters are in Seattle, Wash., and workers are stationed all over the nation, but a significant portion of its operations are based in and focused on Alaska.

The Alaska Department of Labor reported that in 2010, Alaska Airlines was the state's 11th largest private-sector employer. It is the largest transportation employer in the state, ahead of FedEx and the United Parcel Service.

With 1,700 employees in Alaska and 104 daily departures from 20 cities across the state, Alaska Airlines is one of the busiest airlines operating in the state. And while some companies sacrifice customer satisfaction for growth, the airline is a four-time winner of the "Highest in Customer Satisfaction" award among traditional air carriers from J.D. Powers and Associates.

STAYING CONNECTED

Alaska Airlines is unusual among the large air carriers in that it routinely asks for input on everything from flight schedules to customer rewards programs from members of the Alaska communities it serves.

Marilyn Romano, regional vice president of Alaska for Alaska Airlines, said the company recognizes the airline is a primary mode of transportation for many of the Alaska communities it flies to.

"Only three of the communities we fly into have road access," Romano said. "We are the lifeline for people in Barrow and Nome or Wrangell. It's important that we hear from them. Are we meeting your needs? Can we do better?"

Prior to becoming the regional vice president, Romano served on the Alaska Airlines Advisory Board based in Fairbanks. It's one of four regional advisory boards across the state and is a vital way for communities to effectively communicate their needs to airline leaders.

The advisory boards meet three times each year. Making donations to local community groups on behalf of Alaska Airlines is a primary directive of the boards, but they also share community concerns or needs with Alaska Airlines leadership.

"There were some points when (board members...