Alaska Airlines betting big on cargo: Ian Morgan

Ian Morgan, Vice President, Cargo, Alaska Airlines is more excited than ever about the air freight industry. “We are investing in cargo, we are investing in people, and cargo is very important for the long-term future of this company," says Morgan.

Morgan is leading the combined teams of Alaska Air Cargo and Hawaiian Air Cargo after the two merged operations following Alaska Airlines finalising its $1.9 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines in September 2024. "The two U.S. airlines announced the deal in December 2023, but it required federal regulatory approval before being finalised."

Also Read:Alaska’s Hawaiian Airlines acquisition: What it means for air cargo

Alaska announced the appointment of Morgan to lead cargo operations of the combined entity towards the end of September 2024.

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“We have two established, well-respected brands coming together to create new opportunities and expand our portfolio, and it’s an incredible time to be here working with these phenomenal teams,” says Morgan in an interaction with Cargo Connections, the news website of Alaska Air Cargo.

Morgan, who is more than 40 years and thousands of miles from his first job at London’s Gatwick Airport, says the combined airlines will connect to three times the number of cargo markets around the world than either could individually, creating tens of thousands of new shipping opportunities for customers in the shared network. “The combination of the two airlines and teams is far greater, far stronger than the sum of our two parts."

Morgan adds he "literally fell into this industry, and 45 years later, I’m still fascinated by it. I’m still asking questions, and I’m thoroughly enjoying it. One of the reasons I love this industry is it welcomes everyone. If you show the right attitude and aptitude and ability, you can progress from a junior clerk or the warehouse to a senior executive. I did it. Tons of people I’ve worked with have done it.”

Highlighting Alaska Airlines's strengths, Morgan talks about its dominant position on the West Coast, its 120-plus destinations and the depth of its regional commitment to the state of Alaska. "With Hawaiian Airlines, you’ve got a similar deep sense of community with its care and responsibility for the Hawaiian Islands. Then it has the wide-body capacity that connects through Honolulu right now to Japan, Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

"As we bring these two airlines together, we will expand that wide-body capacity and our geographic reach. The combination of the two will allow us to serve our existing and future customer base better than we ever have.”

Culture? customers?
“We have an incredible new combined cargo team from two great entities. We are going to become innovative in our service for customers, but we will keep a very personal human touch in every interaction we have. Our customers have a high opinion of both airlines and it’s important for our teams that this is a personal connection vs. just a business transaction.” 

After 45 years of working mainly in an international market, Morgan says getting exposure to domestic air freight in the U.S. is like a kid absorbing something new. "When I travel to Hawaii and Alaska, I’m struck by the incredible personal nature of the business. You’re dealing directly with the people involved in this business, whether it’s fish or scientific research, or oil and gas. There’s such an intimacy with the customer base that you don’t quite get in the international market. It adds a very personal experience into sales. For somebody who’s been around for a long time, that’s a new experience — and it’s a wonderful one.”