Alaska Airlines Adds New Hawaii Service From Oakland, Expands Seattle-Honolulu Flying and Announces Seattle-Houston and Seattle-Atlanta Service

Carrier makes strategic shift in capacity to match customer demand; reduces Mexico flying and advances start of Portland - Maui service

SEATTLE , May 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alaska Airlines announced today it will inaugurate four-times-weekly service between Oakland, Calif. , and Kahului, Hawaii , on the island of Maui , beginning Nov. 9, 2009 , and thrice-weekly service between Oakland and Kona, on the Big Island of Hawaii , starting Nov. 10, 2009 .

Additionally, the airline will expand its Seattle - Honolulu schedule from one daily flight to two, beginning July 2, 2009 , and advance the start of its Portland - Maui service to July 3, 2009 , from Aug. 7, 2009 .

"Hawaii has become a major market for Alaska Airlines in just a short time, thanks to the loyalty of our customers and the great service provided by our employees," said Steve Jarvis , vice president of marketing, sales and customer experience. "We will have 59 flights a week to the four major Hawaiian Islands, and we're offering low fares and Alaska Airlines Vacations packages that make Hawaii travel even more affordable."

Alaska is offering introductory one-way fares of $169 between Oakland - Maui , Oakland -Kona and Portland - Maui , for tickets purchased by May 21, 2009 .

New Seattle - Houston and Seattle - Atlanta nonstops

Alaska also will inaugurate nonstop daily service between Seattle and Houston , beginning Sept. 23, 2009 , and between Seattle and Atlanta , starting Oct. 23, 2009 . Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan members can earn double miles on the new nonstop flights between Seattle and Houston , through Nov. 23, 2009 , and between Seattle and Atlanta , through Dec. 23, 2009 .

"We are shifting capacity into markets where we are seeing higher demand," said Andrew Harrison , Alaska's vice president of planning and revenue management. "Houston and Atlanta are two of the largest markets that we don't currently serve nonstop from Seattle . With their strong business ties to the state of Alaska and Pacific Northwest, these cities will be great additions to our core route network."

Reduction in Mexico flying

The airline also announced plans to reduce its summer and fall flying to Mexico by 37 percent beginning July 2, 2009 , through fewer flight frequencies. Harrison said the airline is reducing capacity in this market to match demand and reallocating it into new markets that will bring additional revenue to the airline. "We will continue to serve all our Mexico routes but will have fewer flights until we see a turnaround in demand," said Harrison.

The schedule changes announced today will not affect Alaska's plan to shrink capacity by 6 percent overall in 2009.

Summary of new flights

The new flights are available today at alaskaair.com or by calling (800) ALASKAAIR (800-252-7522 or TTY/TDD line 800-392-0228).

Alaska Airlines Vacations offers a full line of complete vacations and air/car packages for travel to Maui , the Big Island of Hawaii , Oahu and Kauai . Vacation packages include air transportation, hotel accommodations, optional ground transportation and tours.

Alaska Airlines will operate the new flights with Boeing 737-800 aircraft, accommodating 16 passengers in first class and 141 in the main cabin. Flights will offer Alaska's Northern Bites meals-for-purchase service, which allows coach passengers to buy a meal onboard. Inflight service also will include Alaska Airlines' digEplayer, a personal entertainment system offering a variety of movies, television shows, music and other features.