Alaska Airlines announces cargo management changes following Hawaiian takeover

Alaska Airlines has revealed its new cargo management lineup following its takeover of Hawaiian.

The Alaska Airlines board of directors elected Ian Morgan as the new vice president of cargo Alaska Airlines, while Jason Berry will return to cargo after being made executive vice president at the Alaska Air Group.

Morgan will lead the day-to-day cargo operations and the nearly 600 employees who make up Alaska Air Cargo.

He will also be responsible for managing the continued growth of Alaska Air Group’s cargo business – operated by both Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines.

Berry will provide “enterprise oversight” of the cargo business while continuing in his separate role as President of Horizon Air, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alaska Air Group.

Morgan brings more than 40 years of cargo experience to the new role.

He has held cargo leadership roles at British Airways Cargo, Cargolux, Centurion Airlines and Qatar Airways Cargo, where he was vice president cargo for the Americas region.

Meanwhile, Berry has nearly 30 years of experience leading cargo operations for multiple airlines including Air Canada Cargo, Cargolux and Alaska Air Cargo where he oversaw the transition of the Boeing 737-400 combi aircraft to next generation 737-700 freighters.

He joined Horizon Air as senior vice president of operations in January 2023 and became president in November 2023.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled about this next chapter for Alaska Air Cargo,” said group president and chief executive Ben Minicucci. “With these leaders, we’re well positioned for unlimited future success as we grow and expand our cargo operations to deliver for everyone who depends on us.”

Last week, Alaska Air Group announced the acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, completing a transaction that expands its operation to include transpacific flights and that bolsters Alaska Air’s fleet with its first widebody jets.

The Seattle-based company, parent to Alaska Airlines, said on 18 September it had closed the deal, paying $1.9bn in all-stock acquisition to acquire Honolulu-based Hawaiian.

The two cargo businesses will initially continue to operate as two separate operations and will integrated gradually over the weeks and months ahead. Customers will be notified about changes to the operation as they are implemented.

Alaska Air Group completes acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines