Cacy Gets New Caseload

<H1>Cacy Gets New Caseload</H1><H2>Cacy: Pursuing new technology</H2><H3>by Jay Campbell</H3><I>Seattle </I>- Alaska Airlines has announced the appointment of Jeff Cacy to the new position of director of system sales and distribution. Cacy formerly served as director of business travel marketing.

While in his previous position Cacy focused on creating amenity products such as airport club rooms, he now coordinates the efforts of the corporate and field sales staff. His new responsibilities also include dealing with the distribution system and electronic technologies as they relate to corporate travel managers and travel agents.

Queried about direct corporate negotiations, Cacy said the airline has not been heavily involved in corporate discount programs. "Our full service at a low price, including a frequent flyer program and advance seat assignments, have provided an advantage over our two primary competitors [Shuttle by United and Southwest] in this region," he said.

Because of the airline's attractive fares and the highest schedule frequency on the West Coast, the product virtually sells itself, Cacy said. "We also like to think we're on the leading edge of technology, which is fitting because corporations in this region tend to have a high-tech bent to them," he said.

Cacy also pointed to the airline's alliances with Northwest, British Airways and Qantas, which are of interest to companies with global reach. "You have to look beyond our limited scope in this region," he said.

Cacy said he expects to continue enhancing partner relationships under the umbrella of what he said was the number-one issue: distribution. While he said that doesn't mean the airline will join most major domestic carriers by capping commissions, it does mean Alaska will continue to develop technology to enhance the efficiencies of ticketing. He noted that Alaska was the first carrier to offer ticketless travel both domestically and internationally.