Tips From Alaska Air’s CEO for Crisis Survival
A Q&A with Ben Minicucci, the chief executive officer of Alaska Air Group, about the challenges of running a carrier during a pandemic and a surge in fuel prices.
Alaska Air seeks a business model that can withstand external shocks.
Photographer: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Ben Minicucci has been the chief executive officer of Alaska Air Group, the parent of Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, since last March. I spoke to him about the challenges of adroitly managing a company pummeled by the Covid-19 pandemic and confronted by skyrocketing fuel prices exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Alaska Air posted a profit of $478 million on revenue of $6.2 billion in 2021 — a performance enhanced by $914 million in federal Covid aid. It was a marked improvement from losses of $1.3 billion on revenue of $3.6 billion the previous year. This interview has been lightly edited for clarity and context.
Tim O’Brien: There’s a war in Ukraine obviously, right now, and we’ve got surging energy prices. How is that figuring into how you’re running the company in an unpredictable environment for energy costs that may affect travelers’ choices if it results in higher ticket prices?