Alaska Air Names Diana Birkett Rakow New Hawaiian Airlines CEO

Alaska Air Group has appointed Diana Birkett Rakow as the new CEO of its Hawaiian Airlines subsidiary, effective October 29, 2025, following the retirement of Joe Sprague. Rakow, who has served as senior vice president of public affairs and sustainability at Alaska Air and has been on Hawaiian Airlines' board for the past year, will report to Ben Minicucci, CEO of Alaska Air Group. Joe Sprague, who worked at Alaska Airlines for 25 years and became Hawaiian Airlines CEO after the 2024 acquisition, will remain on the board after stepping down. The transition coincides with Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Air nearing receipt of a single operating certificate, signaling their integration as a single legal entity. Sprague praised Rakow as the ideal leader to guide Hawaiian Airlines into its next phase. Rakow will also be promoted to executive vice president of corporate and public affairs, chief legal officer, and corporate secretary at Alaska Air Group.