Media Advisory: Alaska Airlines Inaugurates Nonstop Service Between Portland and Maui

 Hawaiian celebration at Portland International Airport celebrates first
                           Portland-Maui flight

  WHEN: Friday, July 3, 7:30 a.m. Pacific time

  WHERE: Gate C-3, Portland International Airport

WHAT: Alaska Airlines will inaugurate its new nonstop service between Portland, Ore., and Kahului, Maui, with a Hawaiian-themed celebration at Portland International Airport. Beginning Friday, Alaska Airlines will operate thrice-weekly flights between Portland and Maui. Passengers will be welcomed aboard the first flight following a traditional Hawaiian Kahu blessing and Hawaiian music performance. The airline will also begin daily service between Portland and Kahului starting Aug. 7, 2009.

TIMELINE:

7:30 a.m. Media meet Alaska Airlines representatives at the Alaska Airlines’

first class ticket counter for escort to departure gate.

8:45 a.m. Hawaiian Kahu blessing and Hawaiian dance performance at departure

gate

8:55 a.m. Remarks from Alaska Airlines, Hawaii Visitors Convention Bureau and

  All About Hawaii Travel
  8:55 a.m. Ribbon-cutting welcomes passengers aboard aircraft
  9:50 a.m. Flight 861 departs


  WHO: The following people will be available for media interviews:
  --  Customers traveling on the first flight
  --  Steve Jarvis, Alaska Airlines' vice president of marketing, sales and
      customer experience
  --  Christina Aldanese, Hawaii Visitors Convention Bureau

  --  Brent Mayes, All About Hawaii Travel vice president

RSVP: Please contact Alaska Airlines Corporate Communications at (206) 392-5134 by 4 p.m. Thursday, July 2, to confirm attendance.

Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group , 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" in the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 and 2009 North America Airline Satisfaction Studies(SM). For reservations, visit alaskaair.com. For more news and information, visit the Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air Newsroom at alaskaair.com/newsroom.

  Contact: Bobbie Egan
  (206) 392-5134

  /PRNewswire -- July 2/

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SOURCE: Alaska Airlines