 Also in 1985 , the Alaska Air Group was formed as a holding company for Alaska Airlines . In 1986 Alaska Air Group acquired regional airline Horizon Air , which remained a separate brand from Alaska Airlines ; since then , both airlines have been subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group . In 1987 , Alaska Airlines purchased Jet America Airlines . Alaska initially operated Jet America as a separate airline , but this proved economically unviable and Jet America 's operations were merged into Alaska 's . Alaska also discontinued all flights to the Midwest and the East coast formerly operated by Jet America . Additional MD @-@ 80s entered the fleet via the acquisition of Jet America Airlines in 1987 . 
