 In 1945 , Alaska Airlines hired its first stewardesses . In 1947 , James Wooten became president of the airline and he began to expand the airline greatly . Under his leadership , the company purchased many surplus military aircraft from the government that were used during World War II . The airline purchased Douglas DC @-@ 3s , Douglas DC @-@ 4s and Curtiss @-@ Wright C @-@ 46 Commandos . Alaska Airlines was the first carrier certified to operate DC @-@ 3s on skis . 
