Alaska Airlines boosts performance

SEATAC, Wash. – Less than five years ago, Alaska Airlines ranked dead last in on-time performance among the 19 airlines tracked by the federal government. But a new system adopted by the airline now has it among the best. The News Tribune of Tacoma says the airline started a detailed program at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to coordinate the tasks of dozens of workers during the brief turnaround time a plane has on the ground. Sea-Tac is the airline’s hub, and any delay there is felt throughout its system. Alaska Airlines officials broke down the jobs into distinct tasks and now give employees more accurate information on what needs to be done. That increases the likelihood that everything will be finished as planned and that the plane will take off on schedule.