Ian Morgan is more than 40 years and thousands of miles from his first job at London’s Gatwick Airport, but he’s more excited than ever about the air-freight industry — and especially his new role as Alaska Airlines’ vice president of cargo, leading the combined teams of Alaska Air Cargo and Hawaiian Air Cargo.
“We have two established, well-respected brands coming together to create new opportunities and expand our portfolio, and it’s an incredible time to be here working with these phenomenal teams,” Morgan said.
Morgan said the combined airlines will connect to three times the number of cargo markets around the world than either could individually, creating tens of thousands of new shipping opportunities for customers in the shared network. “The combination of the two airlines and teams is far greater, far stronger than the sum of our two parts,” he said.
“We are investing in cargo, we are investing in people, and cargo is very important for the long-term future of this company.”
— Ian Morgan, Alaska Airlines vice president of cargo
At the beginning of the busy holiday shipping season, Morgan took a moment to reflect on his global career and to look forward to the opportunities coming in 2025 for growth across the Alaska Air Cargo and Hawaiian Air Cargo network:
What was your first job in the air cargo industry?
“I started out at Gatwick Airport as a junior import accounts clerk, working for a freight forwarder that no longer exists. I had just turned 17. I literally fell into this industry, and 45 years later, I’m still fascinated by it. I’m still asking questions, and I’m thoroughly enjoying it. One of the reasons I love this industry is it welcomes everyone. If you show the right attitude and aptitude and ability, you can progress from a junior clerk or the warehouse to a senior executive. I did it. Tons of people I’ve worked with have done it.”
What was appealing about taking this job leading the cargo teams for Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines?
“When a company starts off with the core values of doing the right thing, being kind-hearted and having care for the people and places in everything you do — well, you had me right there. Culturally, I feel aligned with the priorities, and that enables us to be able to deliver a great product. This feels like a great home.”
How do the strengths of Alaska Air Cargo and Hawaiian Air Cargo combine to create a stronger network?
“If you look at Alaska Airlines, one of its strengths is its dominant position on the West Coast, its 120-plus destinations and the depth of its regional commitment to the state of Alaska. With Hawaiian Airlines, you’ve got a similar deep sense of community with its care and responsibility for the Hawaiian Islands. Then it has the wide-body capacity that connects through Honolulu right now to Japan, Korea, Australia and New Zealand. As we bring these two airlines together, we will expand that wide-body capacity and our geographic reach. The combination of the two will allow us to serve our existing and future customer base better than we ever have.”
As the two teams grow together, what’s important to maintain in our culture for customers?
“We have an incredible new combined cargo team from two great entities. We are going to become innovative in our service for customers, but we will keep a very personal human touch in every interaction we have. Our customers have a high opinion of both airlines and it’s important for our teams that this is a personal connection vs. just a business transaction.”
What’s one of the exciting things you’ve learned since joining the team this fall?
“After 45 years of working mainly in an international market, I’m getting exposure to domestic air freight in the U.S. I’m like a kid absorbing something new. When I travel to Hawaii and Alaska, I’m struck by the incredible personal nature of the business. You’re dealing directly with the people involved in this business, whether it’s fish or scientific research, or oil and gas. There’s such an intimacy with the customer base that you don’t quite get in the international market. It adds a very personal experience into sales. For somebody who’s been around for a long time, that’s a new experience — and it’s a wonderful one.”
