Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and Horizon Air honor veterans, active-duty service members, and military families through Honor Flights, the employee-led Fallen Soldier Program, and initiatives that support military and veteran employees.
As part of its Honor Flight program, Alaska Airlines flies U.S. military veterans to Washington, D.C., free of charge, allowing them to visit national memorials dedicated to their service and sacrifice.
Alaska is operating 21 Honor Flights in 2026, carrying more than 2,000 veterans and their chosen companions. Alaska collaborates with Honor Flight chapters across its domestic network to facilitate veterans’ travel from locations such as Washington state, Alaska, Hawaiʻi, Oregon, and California to Washington, D.C.
A flight attendant, Andrea J., served on the Honor Flight from Portland, Oregon, to Washington, D.C., with her father, a Vietnam War Army veteran, on board on Sept. 24.
“There aren’t enough words to describe how proud I was to be working on that flight. I’m so appreciative and proud of my company for their continued support of this incredibly special program,” Andrea said. “In all my years of flying, I’ve never had my dad on one of my flights, so to have him on this one was beyond special. I’m a proud daughter of a decorated Vietnam War veteran, and he’s a proud father of an Alaska Airlines flight attendant. That was a wonderful day that he and I will always remember.”
Each Honor Flight aims to provide a meaningful experience for veterans and their families throughout their travel journey. For many, the trip offers recognition of their sacrifices, gratitude for their service, and the chance to enjoy a warm welcome home.
This summer, employees from Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines united to support a journey carrying the remains of an unidentified World War II airman from Sitka, Alaska, to a government lab in Omaha, Nebraska, where forensic analysis could determine his identity and bring closure to his family.
The effort commenced when the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Accounting Agency contacted Alaska’s Military, Veterans, and Allies Business Resource Group for assistance in searching for two airmen believed to be in unidentified graves at the Sitka National Cemetery.
The airmen were among those presumed lost during World War II when their Douglas C-53B Skytrooper went down in the Bering Sea. The agency required help transporting equipment and personnel to Sitka for the search. Ultimately, only one of the airmen’s remains was found.
Hawaiian Airlines flew agency personnel and equipment from Honolulu to Seattle, and Alaska Airlines carried them onward to Sitka. Alaska also facilitated travel for agency officials from Washington, D.C., and Omaha.
When it was time to transfer the remains, employees from Alaska and Hawaiian, including veterans from the Military, Veterans, and Allies Business Resource Group, collaborated to keep the mission moving.
They ensured the airman’s remains were treated with dignity and respect through the Fallen Soldier Program until the final destination in Omaha.
Due to employees’ teamwork and care, one family is closer to finding answers and the possibility of bringing their loved one home after generations of waiting.
Last month, Alaska unveiled a new, custom-designed fallen soldier cart for Portland International Airport. This cart is the 20th created by Alaska Airlines Maintenance and Engineering employees as part of the airline’s ongoing commitment to honoring fallen service members and the second stationed at the airport.
A fallen soldier cart is used to transport the remains of deceased military personnel to and from aircraft, respecting military protocols. The cart serves as a visible symbol of remembrance and respect for fallen service members and their families, while honoring all who have bravely served.
The program also ensures active-duty and veteran military members are treated with the utmost care in recognition of their service and sacrifice.
Fallen Soldier Carts are available for use by all airlines operating at airports equipped with one. As of November 2026, they are available at:
- Anchorage’s Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport
- Boise Airport
- Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
- Fairbanks International Airport
- Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport
- Kansas City International Airport
- Los Angeles International Airport
- Nashville International Airport
- Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
- Portland International Airport
- San Antonio International Airport
- San Diego International Airport
- San Francisco International Airport
- Salt Lake City International Airport
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
- Spokane International Airport
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
The Military, Veterans, and Allies Business Resource Group plays a pivotal role in connecting current and future military and veteran employees across Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and Horizon Air.
Their employee-led efforts emphasize career development, education, awareness, and networking opportunities throughout the year. Partnerships with transition assistance nonprofits offer service members valuable exposure and support as they prepare for the next chapter of their lives in the civilian workforce.
Alaska and Hawaiian have a long history of recruiting military talent. In 2025, Alaska launched its Military Technician Transition Program, transitioning 13 active-duty service members and veterans into fulfilling aviation careers throughout the combined company.
The Military Technician Transition Program is crucial in ensuring Alaska, the fourth-largest global carrier in the U.S., maintains the highest safety standards as it expands its network and fleet.
To learn more about how Alaska Airlines supports active-duty military members and veterans, visit Alaska Airlines’ salute to service page.
