Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines reach major integration milestone: a single operating certificate

With a single operating certificate, several Honolulu-based leadership positions formally take effect today to support the Hawaiian Airlines brand and the combined organization’s operations to, from and within Hawai‘i. Diana Birkett Rakow, executive vice president of public affairs and sustainability at Alaska Airlines, becomes CEO of Hawaiian Airlines, succeeding Joe Sprague, who is retiring after a distinguished career with Alaska Air Group. Jim Landers, Hawaiian Airlines senior vice president for technical operations, assumes the role of head of Hawai‘i operations, while Shelly Parker, Horizon Air’s vice president of station operations and inflight, becomes head of Hawai‘i guest operations. They will serve alongside other members of the Honolulu leadership team.