ATW's 2012 Joseph S. Murphy Industry Service Award - Alaska Airlines

The ATW  Joseph S. Murphy Industry Service award is bestowed on those who have demonstrated exceptional service in the airline industry while also bringing credit to the industry as a whole through outstanding public service.

Alaska Airlines has continued to lead a number of technological developments that help advance the entire industry while also making outstanding commitments to worthy causes such as the Make-a-Wish Foundation, Angel Flight West and the Special Olympics.

The carrier has long been a pioneer in advancing technological developments that have benefitted the industry as whole. It was the first to sell tickets on the Web, and it led Required Navigation Performance efforts, creating the “Airport of the Future.”

When a computer outage in March resulted in cancellations of 15% of its flights, Alaska sent individual responses within two weeks to each of the 18,000 passengers whose flights were delayed or cancelled, offering them compensation tailored to their situation. Alaska was also one of only two airlines to pass on savings to customers from federal taxes and fees it was not required to collect during the partial FAA shutdown.

“When this issue arose, we felt there was only one path to take,” CEO Bill Ayer said in a message to employees. “Quite simply, passing the savings on to our customers is the right thing to do . . . we weren’t keeping this money in the first place and don’t think it’s fair to passengers to do so now.”

Alaska’s community mindset, meanwhile, shines through as bright as its commitment to industry advancement. The carrier is involved with numerous environmental and corporate-giving initiatives through charities that include the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Angel Flight West, the Special Olympics, and Shriners Hospital for Children.

Through these charities and organizations, Alaska helps enable hundreds of individual emergency and medical transportation needs. The carrier also works to grant the wishes of children with terminal illness.

For Alaska, this giving back isn’t merely an option; it’s business as usual. And Alaska employees are a reflection of the company’s altruistic spirit; made evident by the more than 8,000 hours of employee community service that were logged in 2010.

“Across our system, our employees use their hearts and hands, serving as board members with non-profit organizations, volunteering in their communities and participating in fundraisers,” Ayer said.

For every hour each of its employees volunteers at a nonprofit organization, Alaska donates $10 in their name to that organization. In 2010, Alaska Air Group made cash and in-kind contributions totaling $5,669,153 to organizations throughout its system.

It is this commitment to advancing the industry as well as its heart for making a difference which makes ATW proud to present the Joseph S. Murphy Industry Service award to Alaska Airlines.

View Award Video Presentation Here.