Alaska Airlines Applies to U.S. Department of Transportation to Serve Mexico City

Alaska Airlines applied to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for authority to provide twice-daily, nonstop service between Los Angeles and Mexico City beginning as early as May 1, 2005.

"Our 17-year commitment to Mexico and ongoing investment in our growing route system there make Alaska Airlines ideally suited to serve the needs of West Coast passengers traveling to and from Mexico City," said Joe Sprague, Alaska’s staff vice president of public and government affairs. "We will expand the choice of carriers serving Mexico’s capital, while bringing our award-winning service to another top year-round destination in Mexico."

Alaska Airlines introduced service to Mexico in 1988 and is now the largest Los Angeles-Mexico and U.S. West Coast-Mexico carrier, serving eight Mexican cities. The airline is the only applicant for the route that does not currently serve Mexico City and has pursued Los Angeles-Mexico City authority for the past 14 years.

In its Feb. 22 application, Alaska Airlines proposed two daily flights with Seattle-Los Angeles-Mexico City and Portland-Los Angeles-Mexico City routings, which would extend the benefits of Mexico City service far into the Pacific Northwest.

With a West Coast route system extending from Mexico through 35 cities in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and Alaska, plus 38 points served by sister carrier Horizon Air, Alaska Airlines offers a full spectrum of West Coast connections with Mexico City unmatched by any other carrier.

The United States-Mexico bilateral agreement governing air service between the two countries limits U.S. service to Mexico City to two carriers. Delta Air Lines’ discontinuation of service to Mexico City at the end of January created an opening for another carrier to fly the route in addition to United Airlines.

A DOT decision is expected in the spring, and Alaska would commence service as soon as possible following both U.S. and Mexican approvals.

In July 2004 Alaska was voted the best major domestic carrier by readers of Travel & Leisure magazine. The airline also has received frequent recognition for its technology innovations, including being the first carrier to sell tickets on the Internet and provide Internet check-in.

Alaska and its sister carrier, Horizon Air, together serve more than 80 cities in Alaska, the Lower 48, Canada and Mexico. For reservations visit www.alaskaair.com. For more news and information, visit the Alaska Airlines newsroom on the Internet at http://newsroom.alaskaair.com/.

SOURCE: Alaska Airlines