The NEW Alaska Airlines & What to Expect

In the coming days Alaska Airlines will hold a press conference and events that’ll unveil their new “brand identity” as they work toward integrating Virgin America into their system and product. Here’s a sneak peak at what you can expect:

• The new company’s name will remain Alaska Airlines
• Virgin America planes will increase 8 first class seats to 12, though it’ll be a new seat
• Rumor is the new seat may not be motorized

• The seat pitch in first class will decrease from 55″ to 41″
• The leases on the Airbus aircraft don’t expire until 2020, so expect to see the VX planes until such time
• Fleetwide new cabin interiors are planned, it seems to be “moodlighting” is the surviving aspect of Virgin America
• In 2019 the Virgin America brand will vanish, and new uniforms will be unveiled
• The RED InFlight Entertainment system and on-demand ordering will probably be removed and replaced with personal entertainment devices
• Also in 2019 operations at SFO will combine in Terminal 2, and American Airlines will move to Terminal 1