Alaska Airlines denounces child separation policy

Company has not transported immigrant children split from parents, spokesman says

In this June 11, 2009 file photo, an Alaska Airlines airliner is pushed away from a gate at SeaTac Airport in SeaTac, Wash. (Associated Press file)

In this June 11, 2009 file photo, an Alaska Airlines airliner is pushed away from a gate at SeaTac Airport in SeaTac, Wash. (Associated Press file)

Alaska Airlines joined several other national air carriers Wednesday by asking the Trump administration to not use their flights to carry migrant children who have been separated from their parents by immigration authorities.

“At Alaska Airlines, our values guide us to do the right thing,” spokesman Ray Lane said by email to the Empire. “Alaska Airlines does not support the recent immigration policy that separated immigrant children from their families. To our knowledge, we haven’t transported any immigrant children who have been separated from their families, and today informed the government that we do not want to do so.”

Lane declined to provide a copy of Alaska Airlines’ letter to the government.

The airline’s statement comes after flight attendants nationwide took to social media to share their experiences aboard flights carrying separated immigrant children.

Hours before Alaska Airlines issued its statement, President Trump recanted his separation policy in an executive order.


• Contact reporter James Brooks at jbrooks@juneauempire.com or 523-2258.


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