 Throughout the 1960s , Alaska Airlines worked to promote tourism to Alaska by offering charter flights to the continental United States . In an attempt to increase the state 's appeal , Alaska Airlines conducted a promotional tour of Japan in 1963 . In 1967 , as the state of Alaska celebrated its centennial , Alaska Airlines introduced a promotional " Gay Nineties " theme with stewardesses dressed in Edwardian outfits . That year , Alaska Airlines expanded to southeast Alaska with the introduction of service to Sitka . This led to the purchase of two smaller airlines , Alaska Coastal Airlines and Cordova Airlines , in 1968 . 
