Alaskan Airlines's Competitive Advantage

Alaskan Airlines is the epitome of competitive advantage. This airline has been profitable for 84.6 percent of their duration and is still an independent airline. Alaskan Airlines has shown impressive statistics, such as their significant increase in profit from 2011 to 2012. They reported a 29 percent profit in 2012 with a record of 316 million net income (business insider). This airline has shown greater than a 300 percent rise in stock since 2008. Throughout the years Alaskan Airlines had endured many large adversities. A couple of these harsh conditions were record storms, the financial meltdown, inflated fuel prices and the aftermath of the 911 tragedy (business insider). So how did this airline remain so successful? Well you are about to find out in the following paragraphs.
The first reason Alaskan Airlines is so successful is their warmth and generosity. They have an exceptional reputation for being hospitable. In (Ira Kalb’s) article he shares a story of being stranded in Portland, Oregon. His flight to Las Angeles was cancelled and his airline at the time, which was United, said he would have to wait till the next day. He started to walk away and Alaskan Airline attendant asked if they could help him. Even though he was not flying

Alaskan Airline pilots get some of the best training to fly through some of the roughest and most sever weather. There is no other major airline in the state of Alaska to put up any local opposition. The price, terrain, and distances are just too much for any other airline. While there is no regional competition, Alaskan Airlines has routes to the West Coast, Mexico, Hawaii and Salt Lake City (Business Insider). Alaskan Airlines actually has routes with 62 destinations and utilizes over 100 aircraft. A great bragging right is the ability to have the number one spot for on time performance, and Alaskan Airlines has claimed that spot