UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION , DC 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

December 2, 2010 (Date of earliest event reported) , INC. (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Delaware (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

1-8957 91-1292054 (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)

19300 International Boulevard, , Washington 98188 (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

(206) 392-5040 (Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below): o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

ITEM 5.02. Election of Directors On December 2, 2010, Alaska Air Group, Inc. announced the appointment of , president of , Inc., to the Boards of Directors of Air Group and Alaska Airlines. A press release issued on December 2, 2010 is attached as Exhibit 99.1.

ITEM 9.01 Financial Statements and Other Exhibits

Exhibit 99.1 Tilden Press Release dated December 2, 2010

Signatures Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

ALASKA AIR GROUP, INC. Registrant

Date: December 2, 2010

/s/ Keith Loveless Keith Loveless General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

Exhibit 99.1

Contact: Bobbie Egan (206) 392-5134

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Dec. 2, 2010

BRAD TILDEN APPOINTED TO BOARDS OF DIRECTORS OF ALASKA AIR GROUP AND ALASKA AIRLINES

SEATTLE — The Alaska Air Group board of directors and , chairman and chief executive officer, today announced the appointment of Brad Tilden to the boards of directors of Air Group and Alaska Airlines. Tilden, the president of Alaska Airlines, oversees the carrier’s operating divisions, as well as Cargo, Marketing, Planning and Revenue Management. Alaska Air Group Inc. (NYSE:ALK) is the parent company of Alaska Airlines and .

“Brad has demonstrated engaging leadership, financial savvy and strong values throughout his two decades at Alaska Air Group,” Ayer said. “We’re pleased to add his seasoned perspective and passion for the business to our boards.”

Tilden was elected president of Alaska Airlines in December 2008. He previously served as chief financial officer and executive vice president of finance for Alaska Air Group. Before joining Alaska in February 1991, he spent eight years with the accounting firm Price Waterhouse at its offices in Seattle and Melbourne, Australia.

Tilden earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Pacific Lutheran University and an executive master’s degree in business administration from the . He also holds a private pilot’s license.

Tilden is a director of Flow International Corp. and serves on the boards of Pacific Lutheran University and the Chief Seattle Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

Note to media: A high-resolution photograph of Tilden is available for download from Alaska Airlines’ Newsroom (“Executive Leadership” page) at alaskaair.com/newsroom.

Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air 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” in the J.D. Power and Associates 2008, 2009 and 2010 North America Airline Satisfaction StudiesSM. For reservations, visit alaskaair.com. For more news and information, visit the Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air Newsroom at alaskaair.com/newsroom.