Alaska Airlines Earns Top Score in 2015 Corporate Equality Index

SEATTLE, Nov. 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Alaska Air Group, parent company for Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, has received a perfect score of 100 percent on the 2015 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), a national benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices related to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) workplace equality, administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC).  Alaska Airlines joins the ranks of 366 major U.S. businesses which also earned top marks this year.

"We're thrilled to receive Human Rights Campaign's top score for our commitment and support of LGBT employees," said Tammy Young, Alaska Airlines' vice president of human resources. "This rating is a significant step forward in our diversity journey and reflects Alaska and Horizon's commitment to foster an inclusive work environment that is made up of people from varied backgrounds, experiences and perspectives."

Young praised the contributions made by members of the company's Gay, Lesbian or Bisexual and Transgender Employees (GLOBE) group in helping Alaska achieve its perfect rating.

The 2015 CEI rated 971 businesses in the report, which evaluates LGBT-related policies and practices including non-discrimination workplace protections, domestic partner benefits, transgender-inclusive health care benefits, competency programs, and public engagement with the LGBT community. Alaska Airlines' efforts in satisfying all of the CEI's criteria results in a 100 percent ranking and the designation as a Best Place to Work for LGBT Equality. 

"In order to achieve a perfect score, a company has to show a deep and serious commitment to treating their LGBT employees fairly and equally on the job," said HRC president Chad Griffin. "We also look at whether a company is speaking out in the public square to advocate for LGBT equality here in this country and around the world. Alaska not only meets these standards, it goes above and beyond the call of duty, making commitment to equality a fundamental aspect of its corporate values."

Alaska's ranking this year is 10 points higher than it scored in 2013 and 2012, largely due to the company's recent decision to provide transgender-inclusive health care coverage.

Alaska Airlines shared the news of HRC's ranking today at its 6th Annual Diversity Summit, an event open to all employees.

To learn more about the 2015 Corporate Equality Index, visit www.hrc.org/cei.

About Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines, a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK), together with its partner regional airlines, serves more than 100 cities through an expansive network in Alaska, the Lower 48, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico. Alaska Airlines ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Traditional Carriers" in the J.D. Power North American Airline Satisfaction Study for seven consecutive years from 2008 to 2014. Alaska Airlines' Mileage Plan also ranked highest in the J.D. Power 2014 Airline Loyalty/Rewards Program Satisfaction Report. For reservations, visit www.alaskaair.com . For more news and information, visit the Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air Newsroom at www.alaskaair.com/newsroom.

About HRC

The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

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SOURCE Alaska Airlines