Aurora Takes Off : Stottler Henke Teams with Alaska Airlines for Pilot Training Scheduling

Alaska Airlines: A Legacy of Excellence

Alaska Airlines delivers more than 17 million passengers each year to over 60 destinations across three countries, including coast-to-coast routes within the continental United States and flights to Hawaii. For more than eight decades, the airline has earned a reputation for quality service, operational excellence, and an unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction.

Throughout its history, Alaska has consistently sought ways to set itself apart from competitors through the strategic adoption of innovative technologies. From pioneering online ticketing and check-in to introducing mobile boarding passes and embracing new digital tools, Alaska Airlines has continually redefined the travel experience. Today, the fleet is composed of state-of-the-art Boeing aircraft, and Alaska continues to demonstrate leadership in aviation technology, operations, and customer engagement.

Innovation as a Core Principle

Alaska Airlines has long believed that innovation is essential to delivering its principal goal: an exceptional travel experience. The airline was one of the first in the industry to:

• Offer online ticketing and check-in, transforming the way passengers prepare for travel.

• Introduce mobile apps and Google Wallet integration, streamlining payments and boarding.

• Equip pilots with iPads instead of paper flight manuals, saving time, reducing cockpit clutter, and improving sustainability.

• Embrace social media platforms as tools for customer service, engagement, and real-time communication.

These steps reflect Alaska’s philosophy of using technology not only to improve efficiency but also to enhance the passenger journey from start to finish.

Meeting the Challenges of Growth

As Alaska Airlines continues to expand its fleet and add new routes, one of its most pressing challenges lies in the training and scheduling of pilots. Ensuring that every pilot receives the proper training on time is a highly complex undertaking. Training facilities, simulators, and instructors are finite resources, yet they must accommodate the scheduling demands of hundreds of pilots across multiple aircraft types and routes.

Traditional scheduling methods can quickly become overwhelmed in this environment, leading to inefficiencies, bottlenecks, or costly delays in training. For an airline committed to both safety and growth, these challenges required a new, more intelligent solution.

Aurora: AI-Powered Scheduling for Pilot Training

To address these challenges, Alaska Airlines turned to Aurora, Stottler Henke’s AI-based intelligent planning and scheduling software. Aurora is well known for its ability to handle complex, constraint-driven scheduling environments, making it an ideal fit for pilot training.

Aurora was customized to meet Alaska’s unique operational needs, creating a version specifically tailored to pilot training scheduling. By leveraging AI decision-making heuristics and optimization techniques, Aurora helps Alaska:

• Maximize training facility utilization, ensuring simulators and classrooms are used efficiently.

• Adapt to changing demands, such as new aircraft deliveries or unexpected staffing requirements.

• Reduce scheduling conflicts, preventing costly delays that can cascade into flight operations.

• Plan proactively, giving Alaska the ability to anticipate resource needs and resolve issues before they affect the broader operation.

The result is a smarter, more resilient scheduling system that scales with Alaska’s growing fleet and workforce.

A Partnership in Innovation

Alaska Airlines’ adoption of Aurora reflects the airline’s ongoing pursuit of technological innovation across every aspect of its business. Just as Alaska pioneered digital customer tools in the early 2000s, it is now applying the same forward-thinking philosophy to internal operations—ensuring that pilot training keeps pace with the airline’s growth and strategic vision.

By integrating Aurora into its training ecosystem, Alaska Airlines demonstrates how advanced AI solutions can directly support safety, efficiency, and operational excellence in the aviation industry. It is not just about scheduling—it’s about empowering Alaska’s workforce, strengthening reliability, and ultimately delivering a smoother travel experience for millions of passengers.

Looking Ahead

As aviation becomes increasingly complex, the ability to manage resources with intelligence and foresight will be a defining factor for airlines worldwide. Alaska Airlines’ use of Aurora highlights how AI-driven scheduling can transform even the most challenging operational problems into opportunities for greater efficiency and success.

With its deep history of innovation and its ongoing commitment to excellence, Alaska Airlines continues to soar above expectations—now with Aurora helping ensure that every pilot is trained, ready, and scheduled for success.