Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines collaborated for the San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade, celebrating the Year of the Snake. The event brought together employees from both airlines in a display of cultural unity. Grace, a Hawaiian Airlines flight attendant, expressed her pride in representing both airlines, saying, “The most memorable part of the experience was the excitement and unity among everyone representing Alaska and Hawaiian.”
The parade is notable for attracting over a million spectators annually, making it one of the largest outside Asia. This year marked the first time Hawaiian Airlines employees joined Alaska Airlines for this celebration. A highlight was the Dance Team’s performance alongside a red and gold snake float.
Alaska Airlines served as the title sponsor for the parade, celebrating not only Chinese traditions but also Vietnamese and Korean New Year customs. Mary, an Accounts Payable Supervisor at Alaska Airlines, shared her personal connection to these traditions: “It was so incredible to get to participate in the Lunar New Year festivities.”
MyHoa, an Alaska Records Analyst who celebrates Tết according to Vietnamese tradition, noted that participating in these festivities is significant: “Family gatherings mean a lot to me on Lunar New Year.”
The weekend included various events such as a Lion Dance at Seattle headquarters and a brunch hosted by California’s Public Affairs team in San Francisco’s Chinatown. Community leaders from Asian American and Pacific Islander organizations were present, with some receiving 200k miles to support their missions.
David Tucker and J’Keren Sears led efforts to engage with community organizations like Very Asian and Asians Are Strong. Filmmaker Sean Wang was also invited to discuss his film “Didi.”
Mary summed up her experience by saying she felt honored to be part of such celebrations with both airline families involved.
Alaska Air Group comprises Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Horizon Air, and McGee Air Services. The group operates flights across North America, Latin America, Asia, and the Pacific.
