 Alaska Airlines was one of only three US carriers that supported the 1978 Airline Deregulation Act , knowing that they would reap significant growth and other benefits from deregulation . After deregulation , the company 's real @-@ estate division was spun off into its own company , with Cosgrave becoming its chairman . Leadership of the airline was passed to Bruce Kennedy , a close associate of Cosgrave . Cosgrave made an alliance with Alaska Airlines to purchase competitor Wien Air Alaska , but this ultimately failed and resulted in fines for Alaska Air and its leaders for improprieties during the attempted acquisition . 
