Alaska Airlines Announces New Nonstop Service Between San Francisco and Mexican Resort Destination of Cancun

Alaska Airlines will offer new nonstop service between San Francisco International Airport and the Mexican resort destination of Cancun starting this fall. Cancun will become the fifth Mexican destination Alaska serves directly from San Francisco. The airline also offers nonstop flights from San Francisco to Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Ixtapa/Zihuatenejo.

The San Francisco-Cancun flights went on sale today following U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) approval last week of the new service. Flights will operate seasonally during Cancun’s peak travel season, beginning Oct. 28 and continuing through the end of April. Initially the airline will offer nonstop service three days a week.

"This new nonstop flight to Cancun gives Bay Area residents yet another option to take advantage of Alaska’s award-winning service on the way to the beach resorts of Mexico," said Brad Walker, Alaska’s director of leisure marketing. "As Cancun’s popularity continues to grow and as post-hurricane tourism there rebounds, we’re pleased to add this route highly recommended by tour operators and travel agents."

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

Alaska Airlines Vacations also is offering vacation packages, including round-trip airfare from San Francisco to Cancun and four nights’ accommodations, starting at $448. All package prices are per person based on adult double occupancy. Customers must book and purchase vacation packages by Nov. 10, 2006, and travel by Dec. 15, 2006.

Flights from San Francisco to Cancun will depart at 8 a.m. Pacific time on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Return flights will depart Cancun at 4:53 p.m. Central time on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

San Francisco-Cancun flights will be operated on Boeing 737-800 aircraft, accommodating 16 passengers in first class and 141 in the main cabin. These flights will offer Alaska’s state-of-the-art digEplayer inflight entertainment system, a handheld video-on-demand device offering customers first-run movies, television programs and other entertainment options from the comfort of their own seats. All flights will offer Alaska’s Northern Bites meals-for-purchase service, which allows coach passengers to purchase a meal onboard for $5.

The San Francisco-Cancun service is the fifth new nonstop Mexico route Alaska Airlines has announced during the past month. This fall, the airline also will inaugurate nonstop service between Los Angeles and La Paz, Seattle and Cancun, and between Portland, Ore., and both Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta.

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 44 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 (based on round-trip travel) airport passenger facility charges 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 departure 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.

* Vacation package restrictions apply in addition to those listed above. Price is based on off-peak travel and prices will vary by date, blackout dates apply. All prices and rules are subject to change without notice and subject to availability. All terms and conditions of Alaska Airlines Vacations apply.

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