Two Airlines Battle for the Soul of Seattle—and the Seahawks

It’s a twist on the classic David versus Goliath tale: A younger, scrappier crew of upstarts from an unlikely city face off against an older squad of perennial champions, one that’s already taken over a region and now wants the world. No, we’re not talking Seahawks and Patriots, Brady and Wilson. This is Alaska versus Delta, in a corporate airline dogfight for the soul of one football-loving Pacific Northwestern city.

Alaska Airlines has long been a hometown hero in Seattle. Founded in 1944 and based in the airport-adjacent suburb of SeaTac, the airline has made being the seventh-largest domestic airline look like a downright local—and shockingly personable—affair. A 2014 J.D. Power and Associates survey showed that the carrier had the best customer satisfaction rates among traditional airlines—for the seventh year in a row. And Alaska, which flies to 95 mostly domestic destinations, has always proudly touted its West Coast roots. One must look no further than their in-flight meal service to see it: Alaska Airlines serves Alaskan, Californian and Pacific Northwestern microbrews and wines, and their menu was crafted by Seattle chef and restaurateur Tom Douglas. Forbes reports that roughly 60 percent of Alaska passengers either embarked or disembarked from the Seattle airport in 2013, making it the most important airport for the domestic carrier.