Alaska Airlines Unveils Unique Livery to Celebrate 50th Anniversary of Statehood
09 Aprile 2009 - 7:08PM
PR Newswire (US)
ANCHORAGE, Alaska, April 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- A specially
painted Alaska Airlines jet adorned with a Sitka high school
student's winning design touched down in Sitka, Alaska, this
morning, to celebrate 50 years of Alaska statehood. The unique
livery on a Boeing 737-400 aircraft dubbed the "Spirit of Alaska
Statehood" was created by 16-year-old Hannah Hamberg. It features a
musher and sled dog, state ferry, Native Alaskan canoe, bear and
whale, along with the statement, "We're all pulling together."
Hamberg's design was selected from among thousands of submissions
by students across Alaska in a statewide "Paint the Plane" contest.
Judged by a panel of Alaskan artists and other dignitaries, the
design will fly throughout Alaska Airlines' network of 59 cities.
"This was an amazing opportunity to share Alaska's unique heritage
with people throughout the state and across the country," said
Hamberg. "Growing up in a small town in Alaska, I've seen how
Alaskans work together and help each other. This artwork is a
tribute to our ancestors who helped shape Alaska over the past 50
years." Flying from Seattle in the special aircraft were Hamberg
and her parents, Barth and Mary Alice Hamberg of Sitka, Alaska
State Representative Peggy Wilson and Alaska Airlines
representatives. The plane and honored guests were welcomed to
Hamberg's hometown by Sitka High School students and community
members. "What better way to celebrate the first 50 years of
statehood than to commemorate with a flying mural inspired by our
state's future -- our children," Governor Sarah Palin said.
"Hannah's artwork summarizes the values and qualities that are
uniquely Alaskan and will be cherished for generations to come."
Governor Palin supported the contest along with the Alaska
Statehood Celebration Commission and the Alaska Department of
Education and Early Development. Following the welcoming ceremony
in Sitka, the aircraft will depart for Anchorage and other Alaska
cities. The plane will be routed throughout Alaska and the West
Coast to celebrate the unique role air travel plays in the everyday
lives of Alaskans. "The 'Spirit of Alaska Statehood' aircraft
symbolizes 50 years of independence and fortitude," said Bill
MacKay, Alaska Airlines' senior vice president for the state of
Alaska. "This unique plane will showcase our state's proud heritage
everywhere it flies and have a very special place in our hearts for
years to come." The aircraft received its new livery at Aviation
Technical Services of Everett, Wash., where 48 Associated Painters
spent 14 days completing the complicated painting process requiring
21 colors and about 160 gallons of paint. Hamberg and 12 other
finalists received a trip to Disneyland Resort for their
submissions. In all, 13 trips for four to Disneyland Resort were
awarded, which included round-trip airfare, hotel accommodations
and park tickets. A dedicated Web site,
http://www.painttheplane.com/, highlights the top 13 student
designs submitted in recognition of the state's 50th anniversary.
Note to news media: High-resolution still images of the "Spirit of
Alaska Statehood" plane are available for download from the Alaska
Airlines Newsroom image gallery at alaskaair.com/newsroom. Alaska
Airlines and Horizon Air, subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group (NYSE:
ALK), together serve more than 90 cities through an expansive
network in Alaska, the Lower 48, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico. Alaska
Airlines ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction among Traditional
Network Carriers (tie)" in the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 North
America Airline Satisfaction Study(SM). For reservations, visit
alaskaair.com. For more news and information, visit the Alaska
Airlines/Horizon Air Newsroom at alaskaair.com/newsroom.
DATASOURCE: Alaska Airlines CONTACT: Bobbie Egan, Media Relations,
+1-206-392-5101, or Susan Bramstedt, Director of Public Affairs,
+1-907-266-7231, both of Alaska Airlines Web Site:
http://www.alaskaair.com/
Copyright