Alaska Airlines and the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) have unveiled the world’s largest king salmon. Stretching nearly 129 feet, the fish-themed design will adorn a Boeing 737-800 jetliner and be revealed in autumn 2012.
The new “Salmon-Thirty-Salmon II” design is derived from an earlier version of the paint scheme Alaska Airlines unveiled on a 737-400 in 2005, which was repainted with the carrier’s traditional Eskimo livery in 2011. Besides sporting the image of a wild Alaska king salmon like the original Salmon-Thirty-Salmon, the new design is about nine feet longer and features fish scales on the winglets and a salmon-pink colored “Alaska” script across the fuselage. The design was produced in partnership with ASMI, which promotes wild, natural, sustainable Alaska seafood.
“This airplane celebrates Alaska Airlines’ unique relationship with the people and communities of Alaska and underscores our air transport commitment to the state’s seafood industry,” said Marilyn Romano, Alaska Airlines’ regional vice-president for Alaska. “Because the new design will be featured on a larger 737-800, this 91,000-pound king will boldly promote the world’s finest seafood from the Hawaiian Islands to Boston and beyond.”
In 2011, Alaska Airlines flew nearly 25 million pounds of seafood from Alaska to markets in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Streamlined flight schedules and a rigorous training program required of all airline employees who handle perishables ensures the seafood that travels from Alaskan waters to markets across the United States arrives fresh and often within 24 hours.
According to ASMI, about half of the United States’ total seafood catch comes from Alaska fisheries. In addition, Alaska is regarded as a world leader in sustainable management of its seafood resources.
Transporting about 115 million pounds of cargo annually, Alaska Airlines operates the most extensive air cargo operation on the West Coast.
For more information, access www.alaskaair.com/ or http://pressroom.alaskaseafood.org.
