Alaska Airlines is a major American carrier headquartered in Seattle, Washington, and is the fifth-largest airline in the United States by fleet size and passengers carried. Founded in 1932, the airline has grown from a small regional Alaskan operator into a nationwide carrier serving destinations across the contiguous United States, Canada, Mexico, and Costa Rica. The airline is known for its strong customer service reputation, consistently ranking highly in J.D. Power satisfaction surveys and earning a reputation for reliability and on-time performance. It merged with Virgin America in 2016, significantly expanding its footprint on the West Coast and adding key slots at competitive airports. Alaska Airlines is a member of the oneworld global airline alliance, which it joined in 2021, giving its Mileage Plan members access to partner benefits and reciprocal rewards across dozens of international carriers.