Tag Archives: SkyWest making a difference

Nov 27

SkyWest People Give Back

SkyWest people are continually finding ways to give back to their communities. The Spirit of SkyWest: Our People in Action program supports dozens of charitable 501(c)(3) causes employees are passionate about. Through this program, SkyWest and its people have donated to over 40 organizations nationwide — and that’s just one of the many positive ways SkyWest people are contributing in the areas where they live and work.

This year SkyWest people improved their communities in so many ways including: donating time at local food banks; bringing the miracle of flight with Wings for Autism events in Boise, Idaho; Jacksonville, North Carolina and Fresno, California; volunteering with Civil Air Patrol and giving back to young aviators; raising money for The Special Olympics by pulling an aircraft weighing nearly 180,000 pounds; Supporting the fight against Breast Cancer; Participating in local Big Brothers and Big Sisters programs; and Supporting Habitat for Humanity builds in multiple locations.

The year of giving doesn’t stop there. Through our largest charity event, the Mini Indy, SkyWest people raised over $70,000 for United Way and provided SkyWest Scholarship funds to over 100 outstanding students. They also banded together in relief efforts to help SkyWest’s own who have been impacted by fires and other unforeseen tragedies. And in the upcoming month, SkyWest will be hosting their annual flight to the North Pole for children in need and holding their annual fundraiser for the Utah Food Bank! While together our teams provide an impeccable travel experience in the air, SkyWest people are contributing far beyond their jobs every day in their communities.

Read more stories about SkyWest People Making a Difference. Learn about joining the SkyWest team.

May 11

SkyWest Crew and Make-A-Wish Work Together for Memorable Flight

For 5-year-old Scarlett, a recent trip on a SkyWest flight to start off her Make-A-Wish journey on a Disney Cruise was made even more memorable thanks to Chicago crew members Captain Kevin Jones, First Officer Troy Halterman, and Flight Attendants Tania Randall and Rachel Bryan, who made sure Scarlett’s journey started on a high note.

Prior to boarding their American Eagle flight from Appleton, Wisconsin (ATW) to Chicago (ORD), Captain Jones was handed a letter from the Appleton ground crew. Inside was a request from the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin. The letter explained that this crew’s flight was the beginning of 5-year-old Scarlett’s journey on her way to receive her wish to go on a Disney Cruise. It described Scarlett’s situation and asked if the crew would provide the family with a memorable experience.

Captain Jones with Scarlett (left) and her twin sister Evie (right)

The crew sprang into action to give Scarlett a flight to remember. Tania warmly greeted the family and showed them the features of the galley. Rachel showed Scarlett how to make passenger announcements on the aft hand phone at the rear of the aircraft. After the short 60-minute flight, Scarlett and her twin sister Evie joined the pilots in the flight deck. First Officer Halterman demonstrated what various displays indicate, and the girls capped off their experience with a photo in the flight deck.

Below is Captain Jones’ response to Make-A-Wish Wisconsin following his flight with Scarlett and her family.

Dear Make-A-Wish Wisconsin,

It was with great joy I received your letter today prior to the boarding of American Eagle flight #3238 in Appleton. Our ground crew handed me your letter regarding Scarlett and her family. During our welcome announcements, we introduced Scarlett as one of our honorary crew members. I invited the family to join us near the flight deck/cockpit during deplaning, and Scarlett and Evie were willing to jump on my lap for some photos. Thank you, thank you for allowing me to be a part of this wonderful experience! They are on their way!

Warmly,
Kevin C. Jones, SkyWest Airlines

Each day, SkyWest people transport our customers to and from some of the most important events in their lives. Thank you, Captain Jones, First Officer Halterman, and Flight Attendants Tania and Rachel for your excellent service. Scarlett, we hope you and your family had a memorable experience!

Apr 24

SkyWest Pilot Brings Easter Fun on Flight

Many children wake up Easter morning excited to hunt for eggs with their families, and SkyWest Captain Vincent Wood was not going to let the children aboard his flight from Chicago to Atlanta miss that opportunity this year.

Social Media post from passenger praising Captain Wood.

Captain Wood purchased sealed plastic eggs containing sweet tarts and stickers inside and brought them onboard for kids who may have missed the morning’s festivities. Before departure, Captain Wood walked down the aisle with the green basket, letting each young passenger pick out their favorite egg (after asking permission from their parents). He also offered the treats to any adults who wanted them.

“I figured my kids were getting Easter eggs at home that morning, so the kiddos on the plane should be able to too,” said Captain Wood. “I can’t wait to do it again next year!”

The act of kindness brought joy to the passengers’ Easter morning.

One passenger, Nathan Wood, shared pictures and his thoughts on Facebook thanking the captain, “Wow! What an example of service over and above! … Happy Easter!!!! ”

Captain Wood is a great example of SkyWest’s unique culture where 12,000+ employees are continually going out of their way to provide excellent service. Learn more about SkyWest and opportunities to work with people like Captain Wood on skywest.com/careers.

Read more stories about SkyWest people making a difference.

Jan 03

SkyWest Top Service Moments of 2016

Whether it’s taking care of our fleet, our operation, our passengers or our employees, SkyWest people provide great acts of service every day of the year. With the New Year upon us, take a look at just a few of the top service stories shared with us in 2016.

Captain Praised for Act of Kindness

In April, a mother and her young children were on a late-night flight. As the mom struggled to carry her sleeping children and the family’s luggage off the aircraft, Captain Tracy Woodbury came to assist, offering to carry the sleeping toddler to help the family get home. The mother was so touched she shared the story in a Facebook post. Read the full story here.

Flight Attendant Helps Passenger Make Crucial Connection

Passenger Joe Stevens reached out to us to pass along his thanks to Flight Attendant Manuel Parra. If it wasn’t for Manuel’s service, Joe told us he likely would have missed his international flight connection to travel to his ill wife.

“I fly frequently and have never received such helpful, friendly service from any flight attendant comparable to the service I received from Manuel,” Joe said. “I told Manuel that I had a very short layover before I had to board a connecting flight to Asia to meet with my wife, who was ill. Our flight was close to an hour late leaving, and I was concerned I wouldn’t have time to make my connection.”

As promised to Joe, Manuel helped him through the immigration desk, the customs desk, the kiosk to get his boarding pass, and then through the security gate – just in time for Joe to board as the last passenger.

“For a flight attendant to offer such help is rare, and I want to let you know how much I appreciated him,” Joe continued. “I would definitely have missed my flight otherwise. Not only was his level of service far beyond what I have experienced on my many flights over the years, it was also beyond any level of customer service I have received in any industry. Manuel is much more than just an excellent flight attendant; he is an excellent person.”

CS Supervisor Flies with Unaccompanied Minor

An Aspen deaf camp counselor arrived at the local airport with a 12 year-old boy whose parents purchased a last-minute ticket home to Austin, Texas due to a family emergency. There was one problem; the flight had a connection in Denver. United Airlines does not allow unaccompanied minors under the age of 15 to travel alone during a connecting flight. The family was unaware of the policy, and the camp’s counselor was unable to accompany the boy home.

That’s when Customer Service Supervisor Zak Sidibe took it upon himself to help. On his own time, he flew as a passenger with the boy to Denver to escort him to his connecting flight back home to Austin. Zak communicated with the boy’s deaf parents via text message every step of the way. Thanks to his genuine kindness and heartfelt generosity, the family had some peace of mind knowing their son was in good hands to get home safely during a trying situation.

SLC Maintenance Team Donates Time and Talent to Leonardo Museum

Recently, mechanics at our Salt Lake City maintenance base volunteered their time and expertise to the Leonardo Museum, sharing their love for the miracle of flight with the museum’s 180,000 annual visitors. After helping to reconstruct a C-131 aircraft inside the museum for the opening of the FLIGHT exhibit earlier this year, the SkyWest maintenance team volunteered their time to restore the plane’s luster and shine. Read the full story here.

Pilot Reaches Out to Young Passenger’s Parents During Diversion

Captain Peter Wagstaff recently went the extra mile when he made sure an unaccompanied minor and his anxious parents were informed during a diversion. He sat with the boy and allowed the boy to use his phone to call his parents and let them know what had happened. We received a letter from the child’s parents thanking Captain Wagstaff.

“The captain continued to keep us updated via texts on the progress of the plane,” mother Beth Shanker said, “As a parent of an unaccompanied minor, it was a relief to know someone was watching out for my son. We really appreciated the captain’s updates. He should be commended for the customer service.”

“I’m Your Match!” SkyWest Flight Attendant Donates Kidney to Co-worker

After an ongoing battle against her kidney disorder, Tonuah Trujillo, a Seattle-based SkyWest flight attendant had received the bad news – her kidney function had declined to 12 percent, and she was going to need kidney dialysis or a transplant very soon. As Tonuah was preparing for dialysis due to the lack of donor matches, an incredible thing was taking place behind the scenes. For nearly three months, Chicago-based SkyWest flight attendant Jeanette Perez was taking numerous tests to see if she was a match for Tonuah.

“I became aware of Tonuah’s need via Facebook back in the fall. Long story short, I went through test after test to see if I was her match with the mentality of ‘if it’s meant to be, it will,’” Jeanette said. “I was finally given the go at the end of January and told Tonuah the good news. She did not know I was testing. She didn’t even know who I was really – other than our one time meeting on a Christmas deadhead.”

Read the full story here.

As illustrated by these stories – and even more from the year– SkyWest people deliver extraordinary service each day. With more than 30 million passengers this past year, SkyWest’s more than 11,500 aviation professionals have proven what it means to go above and beyond. Looking at joining the SkyWest team? Learn more by visiting www.skywest.com/careers

Dec 22

SkyWest Teams Spread Holiday Cheer

Justin Giles
Corporate Communications Coordinator

While it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, SkyWest employees make time to give back to the local communities in which they work and live.

In addition to the recent Fantasy Flight in Colorado Springs and Flight to the North Pole in Milwaukee, this year SkyWest people have also contributed to local food pantries and charities, benefiting ill or underprivileged children and families during the holiday season.

Members of the SkyWest team in Salt Lake City recently gathered donations this holiday season to benefit sick children in need of smiles. Pilots, flight attendants and customer service agents rallied together and collected paper, glue, duct tape and other needed supplies for kids’ craft time at the Primary Children’s Medical Center Child Residential and Day Treatment facility.

SLC team members also worked together to support the Candy Cane Corner, a seasonal store providing holiday gifts for low-income families and individuals participating in programs at the YWCA Utah, The Road Home and Volunteers of America. Donations included toys, art supplies, stuffed animals and educational games.

“There was overwhelming support from team members in donating for both of these organizations,” said SLC administrative assistant Tiffani Jensen. ”As the donations were picked up by the organizations, you could see they were truly touched.”

Additionally, team members in St. George, Utah, participated in an annual Holiday Donation Drive. Donations were given to the Utah Food Bank, providing much-needed items to 24 local pantries and organizations. Thanks to the generosity of all who participated, 6,346 pounds of goods were donated, including 87 cases of water, more than 500 cans of food, over 200 pounds of pet food and more.

A huge thank you to everyone who contributed! Whether it’s flying children to the “North Pole,” gathering supplies to benefit charities or collecting goods for local food pantries, SkyWest people go above and beyond to extend their holiday cheer to local communities.

Aug 29

SkyWest Scholarship Program Helps 32 Students Achieve Academic Goals

As the new school year begins, 32 SkyWest Airlines employees and family members will pursue their higher education aspirations with a little help from the SkyWest Scholarship Program. This year SkyWest awarded 32 scholarships totaling $40,000 in recognition of outstanding academic achievement, helping our SkyWest people and their families pursue their educational aspirations.

Scholarship Recipient Tara Pendleton

This year’s scholarship recipients come from a variety backgrounds and represent a wide range of academic ambitions. One of our Presidential Scholarship recipient – Jessica Harris – plans to pursue a dual degree in Aerospace Engineering and Applied Math with a minor in Economics. Upon graduation she hopes to focus on improving our nation’s security by contributing to the field of satellite surveillance and research. Another Presidential Scholarship recipient – Tara Pendleton – plans to use her scholarship funds to study Engineering while maintaining a focus on international development and service. From college freshmen to graduate level studies, each of the recipients has shown their ability to excel and SkyWest is proud to fuel our next generation and help them achieve their dreams.

Recipients were selected by the SkyWest Scholarship Committee comprised of employee representatives, who assessed each applicant individually based on a number of criteria, including GPA, career interest, extra-curricular activities, future goals, unique challenges and a letter of recommendation. Applicants to the program are each high achievers, proving that SkyWest is home to some of the best and brightest in the industry!

The SkyWest Scholarship Program was introduced in 2003 and has raised more than $400,000 to assist the higher education of more than 500 members of the SkyWest team and their eligible family members. These funds are raised by donations from fellow employees in conjunction with SkyWest’s annual Mini Indy.

Congratulations and best of luck to all 32 of the 2016 SkyWest Scholarship recipients!

Aug 17

Supporting The Miracle of Flight

As the largest regional airline providing safe and reliable air service to more than 30 million passengers each year, the miracle of flight is at the center of the world we at SkyWest live and breathe every day. Our 11,700 professionals not only utilize their skills and expertise on a daily basis to safely carry more than 30 million passengers a year, but we also are active contributors to the communities where we live and work. So when the opportunity arose to be a part of the new FLIGHT exhibit at The Leonardo museum in SLC, SkyWest was a natural fit!

To help inspire and educate museum goers, SkyWest donated hundreds of used aircraft parts, components and, perhaps more importantly, members of the maintenance team donated their own time to assist in reconstructing parts of the exhibit. While SkyWest has never operated the C-131, our maintenance experts assembled the aircraft (inside of the museum!), which serves as the exhibit’s main attraction.

Hunt at The Leonardo

“SkyWest was founded on the belief that, through collaboration and innovation, we could improve our communities and the world around us,” said Lori Hunt, SkyWest VP of People. “It’s clear that our core principles resonate with the museum and its mission toward that same innovation and creativity. By sharing our love for flight with visitors, we’ll continue to inspire progress, evolution and excellence in the world of aviation.”

“We couldn’t have completed the exhibit without SkyWest’s generous donation, time and expertise in aviation,” said Alexandra Hesse, Executive Director of The Leonardo. “They were truly a community partner and we are so proud to have them here as the largest carrier in Salt Lake City.”

The Leonardo’s FLIGHT exhibit is an immersive experience into the world and ecosystem of flight, featuring several components and displays. Of course, putting together such an exhibit, that includes a rebuilt C-131 aircraft, flight simulators and aircraft parts, requires authentic materials and professional expertise to assemble those materials. The exhibit opened Aug. 6 and is expected to be at the museum for at least two years. For more information about the exhibit, visit www.theleonardo.org.

Apr 08

SkyWest Captain Praised for Little Act of Kindness

SkyWest people are the best in the industry! Just check out this story that was shared on Facebook after one SkyWest CRJ captain helped a young family with their sleepy toddler.

We landed at midnight and both kids were fast asleep. We waited until we we were the last ones on the plane and woke up…

Posted by Jennifer Braithwaite Cowley on Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Interested in working with incredible people like this captain? Find out more about flying with SkyWest here!

Check out more stories about SkyWest people making a difference!

Nov 18

SkyWest Employees Team up Against Cancer

Wes Horrocks

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Corporate Communications Manager

Supporting the fight against breast cancer is a passion shared by many at SkyWest Airlines. And the efforts of hundreds of employees from across the country this past October are a great example of the commitment they have to raise awareness and find a cure.

Kicking things off, SkyWest employees ordered hundreds of new pink uniform items to wear throughout the month. Proceeds from the pink ties, scarves, shirts and more are sent to support breast cancer research.

Onboard flights, specialty food and beverage items were available for passengers who wanted to support the cause. On one flight, SkyWest flight attendants were excited to see more than $550 in donations from several generous customers.

On the ground, SkyWest employees based in St. George, Utah organized a bake sale that featured a wide assortment of handmade, pink desserts and other treats. The sale, along with an annual Chili Cook-Off, lead to thousands of dollars in donations to the American Cancer Society.

Employees also sharedpersonal experiences and words of encouragement to help support those who have and are fighting:

I’m thrilled to be a survivor! To all you fighters out there Fight On! We can beat this thing! – Debora Cunningham – customer service agent, Colorado Springs

To those who are fighting and to those who are co-battling with a loved one, embrace what you have. Fight hard. You WILL survive! – Jenny Stewart, internal evaluator, St. George

Breast cancer doesn’t know your name, age, income, skin color or religion! it’s just there trying to make trouble and I fought it twice, with the love from my family, friends and co-workers. As long as we got each other we have hope for a cure! – Laura Walker – flight attendant, Chicago

No matter where they are based or what job they perform, SkyWest Airlines’ more than 10,800 employees are an incredible example of what can be accomplished by working together support the fight against cancer.