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Alaska Air Group has named Diana Birkett Rakow as the new CEO of Hawaiian Airlines, marking the first time a woman will lead the airline. Rakow is set to take over on October 29, following the retirement of Joe Sprague. She will be based in Honolulu and report directly to Alaska Air Group CEO Ben Minicucci.
Rakow’s appointment comes as Hawaiian Airlines moves toward integration under a single operating certificate (SOC) with Alaska Airlines. This process follows Alaska Air Group’s $1.9 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, which was announced in December 2023 and completed in September 2024. The merger aims to create a larger network across the West Coast and Pacific regions, with plans for expanded global connectivity through the oneworld Alliance.
Diana Birkett Rakow currently serves as Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Sustainability at Alaska Airlines, where she has led efforts in government affairs, communications, community relations, sales, customer engagement in Hawaii and Alaska, and managed the airline’s venture investment arm. She also sits on the board of Hawaiian Airlines. Prior to joining Alaska Airlines about eight years ago, Rakow held executive roles at Group Health and Kaiser Permanente and worked as a health policy advisor for the US Senate Finance Committee.
