Alaska Airlines reveals new airplane livery spotlighting diversity, education

Alaska Airlines revealed its latest livery today, taking a stand for diversity, equity, and inclusion.

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The carrier partnered with its Black Employee Alliance employee resource group to design its "Our Commitment" aircraft, which also bears the logo for the UNCF, the philanthropic organization that provides scholarship assistance for Black students and at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Alaska Airlines has a longstanding philanthropic relationship with the group.

According to the airline, "[w]e believe education is the great equalizer, with a transformative impact in the lives of young people and a critical component of equity. We partnered with Alaska’s Black Employee Alliance (ABEA), to think about how as an airline, we can do our part to advance the conversation and play a meaningful role in addressing racial equity."

The right side of the plane reads "education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world," quoting Nelson Mandela, while the left side reads "the time is always right to do what is right," a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Along with the livery itself, Alaska said it would donate one million miles annually to support students attending HBCUs for college tours, career development events, and other programs. Alaska makes it possible for customers to donate miles as well. The airline said that since 2017, the airline and passengers have donated a total of 13.4 million miles to that cause alone.

The Boeing 737-900, tail number N492AS, will make its first revenue flight on April 27 as AS 4 from Seattle (SEA) to Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA).