Alaska Airlines to Eliminate Prayer Cards Next Month

Alaska Airlines, the country’s seventh largest carrier based on traffic, announced it will no longer distribute prayer cards to passengers effective 1 February.  The tradition started over 30 years ago and in recent years since the discontinuation of meal service in coach, the cards were only provided to first-class passengers.

The cards quote passages from the Book of Psalms, which are traditionally ascribed to David.  One card quotes Psalm 118: “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His love endures forever.”  Another has Psalm 9:2: “I will be glad to rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name O most high.”

In a letter to passengers signed by Bill Ayer, CEO of the Alaska Air Group and Brad Tilden, president of Alaska Airlines, the airline stated that it was a “difficult decision” that was not made lightly.  The change was made “in order to respect the diverse religious beliefs and cultural attitudes of all our customers and employees.”

Even without prayer cards on board, the executives promised to continue “to fly our passengers to their destinations safely, on time and with their bags.”

Alaska Airlines and its sister airline Horizon Air serve 90 cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.