“We are looking at all of the top destinations that our passengers and mileage-point members would like to see on our schedule, and Hawaii is definitely at the top of the list,” said Steve Jarvis, Alaska's vice president of sales and customer service.

Jarvis spoke Jan. 10, during the Alaska Business Travelers Association's annual scholarship luncheon at the Millennium Hotel in Anchorage.

According to Jarvis, the system used by Alaska Airlines' partners does not easily allow for a mileage-point ticket to Hawaii on one of its partner carriers. “This needs to be fixed,” Jarvis said. “Perhaps the only way we can make good on this is to revamp the system and to offer flights on our own airline.”

Another destination currently not served by Alaska that may appear on the airlines' route structure is Calgary in Alberta, Canada.

“If we listen to our passengers' needs, and (with) the expansion of exploration in the oil fields up north (in Alaska), you might be surprised at how soon something like a flight from Calgary to Anchorage might be on our schedule,” Jarvis said.

While Alaska Airlines has been experiencing record passenger loads on its flights to Alaska, Jarvis indicated that the airline is expanding both the number of seats and flights available for its mileage point redemption program.

Jarvis also said changes would be made to the Alaska Airlines Web site, specifically addressing the mileage point program to improve ticketing from points earned and the purchase of points. “Easy business miles and corporate travel miles will also be improved, and more availability is scheduled,” he said.

At the luncheon, Alaska Airlines and Jarvis were lauded for their work in helping with the 26th annual National Veterans Wheelchair championships that were held in Anchorage over the Fourth of July last year. Missy Anderson, marketing director for Peninsula Airways Inc., credited the airline for its help getting the wheelchairs and racers on and off aircraft for the races.

“It was just the right thing to do,” Jarvis said. “And U.S. businesses need to more for the disabled.”

Mary Gasperline, manager of passenger sales for Northwest Airlines, was awarded the Joan Anderson Scholarship for her longtime support of business travel to and from Alaska.

Rob Stapleton can be reached at