Alaska Airlines Vacations Expands Ground Tours in Popular Alaskan Destinations

Alaska Airlines Vacations today announced it has significantly expanded the number of ground tours it offers in some of the state of Alaska’s most popular destinations. The airline also named independent Anchorage-based tour company Alaska Vacations & Travel the official ground-tour operator for its tours in the state beginning with the 2007 travel season.

Through its partnership with Alaska Vacations & Travel, Alaska Airlines Vacations will continue to offer its popular tours in the Arctic destinations of Barrow and Nome, and add dozens of new ground-tour options in other Alaskan destinations. Customers can purchase new vacation packages to destinations such as Denali National Park, Glacier Bay National Park and Fairbanks by visiting alaskaair.com/vacations or calling (866) 500-5511. The packages, which include options for escorted or self-guided tours, rental cars and cruises, can be customized based on customers’ preferences.

"The state of Alaska is one of the world’s most popular leisure-travel destinations, and many customers have asked Alaska Airlines for more tour opportunities," said Brad Walker, Alaska Airlines’ director of leisure marketing. "Our customers now can arrange ground tours in a growing number of destinations to enrich their visits to our great state."

Alaska Vacations & Travel was established earlier this year by two of Alaska’s most experienced Alaskan tourism experts, Bob Kaufman and Bob Dindinger. Kaufman founded the Alaska Channel, which distributes Alaska visitor information through television programming, print guides and its Web site. Dindinger is chief executive officer of Alaska Travel Adventures, Alaska’s largest day-tour operator.

Alaska Airlines and sister carrier, Horizon Air, together serve 89 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.

FCMN Contact: maria.koenig@alaskaair.com

SOURCE: Alaska Airlines