 In 1952 , the CAB appointed Nelson David as president , and he began to improve the financial stability of the airline . By 1957 , with the carrier in a better financial situation , David left and Charles Willis , Jr. became the company 's new president and CEO . A pilot during WWII , Willis introduced several marketing gimmicks that set the airline apart from other ones of the day . Under his leadership , Alaska Airlines became the first to show inflight movies . The company began service of the Douglas DC @-@ 6 , the airline 's first pressurized plane , enabling flights above clouds and weather disturbances . On these DC @-@ 6 's , the airline introduced " Golden Nugget " service , which included an on @-@ board saloon and piano . 
