Alaska Airlines Inaugurates Service From Seattle to Kona, on Hawaii’s Big Island

Alaska Airlines today will inaugurate daily, year-round service between Seattle and Kona on Hawaii's Big Island. The new flights will provide convenient connections to travelers in other cities...

Alaska Airlines today will inaugurate daily, year-round service between Seattle and Kona on Hawaii’s Big Island. The new flights will provide convenient connections to travelers in other cities served by Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air throughout the Pacific Northwest and state of Alaska.

Flights from Seattle will depart daily at 8:40 a.m. Pacific time and arrive at 1 p.m. Hawaii time at Kona International Airport. Return flights will depart at 2 p.m. Hawaii time and arrive at 9:40 p.m. Pacific time.

"Kona is now the fourth destination that Alaska Airlines serves in Hawaii," said Gregg Saretsky, Alaska Airlines’ executive vice president of flight and marketing. "We’re looking forward to welcoming our customers onboard Alaska Airlines to discover another of the unique and beautiful Hawaiian Islands."

George Applegate, executive director for Big Island Visitors Bureau, said travelers are attracted to the Big Island because of its diverse beauty. "The fiery lava of Kilauea volcano, stargazing atop the high-altitude slopes of Mauna Kea and the warm ocean that surrounds the Big Island are some of the reasons travelers choose to explore this special Hawaiian destination. We are looking forward to welcoming the passengers of Alaska Airlines to our beautiful home," Applegate said.

To celebrate the new service, Alaska Airlines Vacations is offering a package price of $675 for round-trip airfare between Seattle and Kona and four nights’ accommodations. This price is per person, based on double occupancy.

The new flights are operated with Boeing 737-800 aircraft, accommodating 16 passengers in first class and 141 in the main cabin. All flights to Hawaii offer Hawaiian-themed beverage and meal service. Customers in the main cabin are offered complimentary Mauna Loa macadamia nuts and a complimentary Mai Tai or POG juice, as well as a Hawaiian-themed meal-for-purchase option for $5. Customers in first class enjoy exotic meals, such as macadamia nut-encrusted mahi mahi.

Inflight service also includes Alaska Airlines’ digEplayer, a personal entertainment system offering a variety of movies, television shows, music, a channel devoted to Hawaii programming and other features.

Alaska Airlines Vacations offers a full line of complete vacations and air/car packages for travel to the islands of Oahu, Kauai and Maui, in addition to Hawaii’s Big Island.

Alaska Airlines and sister carrier Horizon Air together serve more than 90 cities through an expansive network in Alaska, the Lower 48, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico. Alaska Airlines ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction among Traditional Network Carriers (tie)" in the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 North America Airline Satisfaction Study(SM). For reservations, visit alaskaair.com. For more news and information, visit the Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air Newsroom at alaskaair.com/newsroom.

Vacation Price Rules:

Price is per person based on adult double occupancy and includes round- trip airfare from Seattle and hotel accommodations for four nights at the Kona Seaside Hotel. Other hotels and lengths of stay available; prices will vary. Listed prices require outbound travel Monday through Thursday and return travel Friday through Sunday. Prices will vary on other days of the week. Purchase by March 24, 2009. Valid for travel Nov. 17, 2008, through March 31, 2009. Prices do not include the following taxes and fees charged on a per person basis: Airport Passenger Facility Charges of up to $18 (amount depends on itinerary), Federal Segment Tax of $3.50 per segment (takeoff and landing), and U.S. Security Fee of $2.50 per enplanement. Other information: Package prices based on availability and may not be available on all days. Some blackout dates and restrictions may apply. Passengers may check one bag for free. A second bag may be checked for $25. A fee of $100 will be assessed for each additional checked bag. Additional fees apply to overweight or oversized checked baggage. Prices, rules, taxes and fees are subject to change without notice, and other restrictions may apply. All terms and conditions of Alaska Airlines Vacations packages apply.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: amanda.tobin.bielawski@alaskaair.com

SOURCE: Alaska Airlines

CONTACT: Marianne Lindsey of Alaska Airlines, +1-206-392-5101