MIT Sloan Management Review Article on Charting a Route to Success in Technology Mergers

Many of us travel routinely for work or leisure. We think little of the tasks required — booking tickets, checking bags, earning or redeeming frequent-flyer miles — but modern air travel is a tremendous achievement that few take the time to consider or appreciate.

In 2016, Alaska Airlines acquired Virgin America, creating a strong competitor to the four largest U.S. carriers. Merging the two airlines into a single company required a radical shift — one that empowered employees to take initiative and make decisions. This shift transformed Alaska Airlines’ culture, eliminating bottlenecks and accelerating the merger.

About the Author

Charu Jain is senior vice president of merchandising and innovation at Alaska Airlines. Vikram Baskaran is vice president of information technology services at Alaska Airlines. Chris Clearfield is a coach and consultant who works with engineers, software developers, and C-suite executives to solve complex problems.

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