Alaska Airlines to Begin Seattle-Long Beach Service.

Business Editors

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 4, 2003

Alaska Airlines announced today that it will launch non-stop service between Seattle and Long Beach, beginning Dec. 14 with three daily flights.

The service will replace flights operated by Horizon Air, which along with Alaska Airlines is part of the Alaska Air Group.

"We're delighted to once again serve Long Beach. It is one of the most user-friendly airports in Southern California -- easy access, easy parking and a great centralized location," said Don Garvett, Alaska's vice president of planning. "There's been a great demand from our customers. The larger Alaska Airlines planes will nearly double capacity."

Alaska will serve Long Beach with 138-seat Boeing 737-400 and 120-seat 737-700 airplanes, which have 12 first-class seats.

    Scheduled flight times from Long Beach to Seattle are:

    Alaska Flight 87*

    --  Departs Long Beach 8:30 a.m.    Arrives Seattle 11:14 a.m.

    Alaska Flight 311

    --  Departs Long Beach 11:30 a.m.   Arrives Seattle 2:10 p.m.

    Alaska Flight 335**

    --  Departs Long Beach 5:48 p.m.    Arrives Seattle 8:28 p.m.

    Scheduled flight times from Seattle to Long Beach are:

    Alaska Flight 332*

    --  Departs Seattle 8:35 a.m.       Arrives Long Beach 10:55 a.m.

    Alaska Flight 338

    --  Departs Seattle 2:53 p.m.       Arrives Long Beach 5:13 p.m.

    Alaska Flight 342**

    --  Departs Seattle 6:25 p.m.       Arrives Long Beach 8:49 p.m.

    * operates daily except Sunday
    ** operates daily except Saturday

Alaska Airlines had hoped to begin service in September 2002 but was unable to secure permanent landing slots allocated to large jet operators. Horizon was able to step in and begin operations because authority to operate at Long Beach is different for aircraft of their size. Alaska has since obtained landing slots.

Alaska Airlines previously served Long Beach from 1982 to 1995.

The nation's ninth largest carrier, Alaska Airlines was recently named 2003 Technology Leader of the Year by Air Transport World magazine. Alaska and Horizon serve eight destinations in Southern California -- Burbank, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Ontario, Orange County, Palm Springs, Santa Barbara and San Diego. Alaska and Horizon together serve 85 destinations in the United States, Canada and Mexico. For reservations go to www.alaskaair.com or call Alaska's toll-free reservations line at 1-800-ALASKAAIR (1-800-252-7522).

For more news and information, visit the Alaska Airlines Newsroom on the Internet at http://newsroom.alaskaair.com.