Alaska Airlines Announces New Nonstop Service Between Los Angeles and La Paz, Mexico

Alaska Airlines will offer new nonstop service between Los Angeles International Airport and La Paz, Mexico, starting this fall, making La Paz the 10th Mexican destination the airline serves.

The flights went on sale today following U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) approval last week of the new service. Flights will operate year-round starting Oct. 30. Initially the airline will offer nonstop service three days a week.

Located on a large bay on the Sea of Cortes, La Paz is a preferred destination for kayaking, diving, sailing and fishing, and growing in popularity as an eco-tourism and vacation destination. The capital city of the Mexican state of Baja California Sur, La Paz also attracts business travelers and passengers visiting friends and family in the region.

"With La Paz’s increasing popularity as a leisure-travel destination and steady demand from travelers visiting friends, family and business associates there, La Paz is a natural extension of our growing service to Mexico," said John MacLeod, Alaska’s managing director of planning and alliances. "More than 1.2 million passengers already take advantage of our award-winning service to and from Mexico each year, and we’re pleased to add La Paz as yet another option."

To inaugurate the new service, Alaska is offering introductory one-way fares for travel between Los Angeles and La Paz of $129. Reservations and tickets are available now at alaskaair.com or by calling (800) ALASKAAIR. Customers must book and purchase their tickets by July 31, 2006, and travel by Dec. 19, 2006. Additional restrictions apply for introductory fares.

Alaska Airlines Vacations packages to La Paz will be available for purchase beginning in September.

Flights from Los Angeles to La Paz will depart at 11:20 a.m. Pacific time on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Return flights will depart La Paz at 3:35 p.m. Mountain time on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. The new flights are timed for convenient connections to and from other cities in the Pacific Northwest, Alaska and Western Canada, both on Alaska Airlines and its sister carrier, Horizon Air.

Los Angeles-La Paz flights will be operated on Boeing 737-400 aircraft, accommodating 12 passengers in first class and 132 in the main cabin. All flights will offer Alaska’s Northern Bites meals-for-purchase service in the main cabin, which allows coach passengers to purchase a meal onboard for $5.

The Los Angeles-La Paz service is the fourth new Mexico route Alaska Airlines has added during the past month. Alaska announced June 21 it will add seasonal, nonstop service beginning in October between Seattle and Cancun, Mexico, and between Portland, Ore., and the Mexican resort destinations of Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta. The airline also received DOT approval this week to add nonstop service between San Francisco and Cancun. These flights will begin in October and will be available for purchase beginning Saturday.

Introducing service to Mexico in 1988, Alaska Airlines now transports more than 1.2 million passengers annually between the U.S. West Coast and Mexico. During its upcoming winter schedule, the airline will operate up to 41 flights daily serving 10 Mexican destinations, including Cancun, Guadalajara, Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo, La Paz, Loreto, Los Cabos, Manzanillo/Costa Alegre, Mazatlan, Mexico City and Puerto Vallarta.

— Flights are subject to Mexican government approval. Airfare prices listed do not include airport passenger facility charges (based on round-trip travel) of up to $18 (amount depends on itinerary), federal segment tax of $3.30 per segment (takeoff and landing) on itinerary, and a U.S. security fee of $2.50 per enplanement (up to $10). Additionally to Mexico, airfares listed do not include a U.S. immigration user fee of $7, U.S. APHIS fee of $5, U.S. international transportation tax of $29, Mexico international departure tax of up to $28, and Mexico tourism tax of up to $20. Mexico fees fluctuate with the exchange rate.

— Airfare restrictions apply. Seats are limited and introductory fares may not be available on all flights or on all days. Tickets are nonrefundable but can be changed for a $50 change fee and any applicable changes in fare. All fares are in U.S. dollars and are subject to change without notice. Other restrictions apply depending on individual fare rules. See alaskaair.com for complete fare rules.

Alaska Airlines and sister carrier, Horizon Air, together serve 88 cities through an expansive network throughout Alaska, the Lower 48, Canada and Mexico. For reservations visit alaskaair.com. For more news and information, visit the Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air Newsroom at alaskaair.com/newsroom.

SOURCE: Alaska Airlines