Alaska Air to cut 200 jobs as fuel costs threaten $700 million annual loss

Key facts

• Alaska Air Group will cut about 200 non-contract jobs.
• The airline could lose as much as $700 million this year.
• This would be the first adjusted pre-tax loss outside the pandemic since 2003.

Alaska Air Group Inc. announced on Friday that it will reduce its workforce by approximately 200 non-contract employees. The decision comes as the airline faces significant financial pressure from soaring fuel prices and ongoing geopolitical challenges. Chief Executive Ben Minicucci informed employees via a memo that the company could incur an adjusted pre-tax loss of up to $700 million this year if current market conditions persist. This would mark the first such loss since 2003, excluding the pandemic period. The job cuts amount to less than 1% of Alaska Air's total workforce of about 32,500 employees.