Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air to Require Passengers to Wear Seat Belts at All Times While Seated.

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 31, 1998--Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air announced today that they will require the use of seat belts for the entirety of their flights while passengers are seated.

"This is the simplest way passengers can protect themselves when an aircraft encounters unexpected turbulence," said John F. Kelly, chairman and CEO of Alaska Air Group, Inc., parent company of Alaska and Horizon. "By requiring passengers to buckle up when they're seated, we believe we'll dramatically reduce their chances of being injured."

The announcement follows recent discussions by members of the Air Transport Association on ways to improve passenger safety in light of "clear-air turbulence." The phenomenon, which occurs suddenly with little warning, can cause injuries to passengers who are not wearing their seat belts.

Such an incident occurred recently on an Alaska Airlines flight bound to Las Vegas from Seattle. Several passengers on board reported injuries after the flight encountered clear air turbulence as it was passing over Reno, Nev. None of the injured passengers were wearing their seat belts at the time the incident occurred.

Alaska Airlines is the nation's 10th largest major carrier; Horizon Air is the nation's sixth largest regional carrier. Together, they serve 75 cities in Alaska, Mexico, Canada, Russia and seven Western states.

CONTACT: Alaska Airlines Horizon Air

Jack Evans Sue Warner-Bean

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