Alaska Airlines profits despite pilot shortage, operational challenges

Alaska Airlines passengers wait for their bags at Gustavus Airport on June 29, 2017. (Photo by Jeremy Hsieh/KTOO)
https://cpa.ds.npr.org/northwestnews/audio/2017/07/072617ES_AirlineOps_web.mp3Alaska Airlines is still ironing out operational wrinkles following the acquisition of Virgin America last year. At the same time, its smaller, regional airline is still grappling with a pilot shortage.
The acquisition of Virgin America gives Alaska Air Group access to larger markets, like San Francisco and