John Wiitala named VP of maintenance at Alaska Airlines

During his time at United Airlines, Wiitala expanded the airline's operations from under 450 aircraft to 944. He also played a significant role during the United-Continental merger by aiding in the integration process.

Constance von Muehlen, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Alaska Airlines said: “With over three decades in technical operations’ leadership roles to include both narrow and widebody aircraft, I welcome John’s expertise, leadership and vision as Alaska becomes a global airline. John will lead our team to uphold the highest standards of safety, quality and compliance for Alaska’s fleet while combining operations with Hawaiian Airlines.”

Wiitala began his aviation career in project engineering at Aircraft Modular Products in Miami in 1988. He holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Iowa. Additionally, he has been involved with Argonaut/Davis High School in Cleveland which helps youth pursue pilot and technician certifications.

Alaska Air Group is headquartered in Seattle with subsidiaries including Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Holdings Inc., Horizon Air, and McGee Air Services. Following its acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, it serves over 140 destinations globally. The company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under "ALK."