SEATTLE, Oct. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alaska Airlines today will inaugurate service to Hawaii, operating its first daily nonstop flight between Seattle and Honolulu. Alaska also will launch nonstop service between Seattle and Lihue on the island of Kauai on Oct. 28, and between Anchorage, Alaska, and Honolulu on Dec. 9.

"Our customers and employees have been waiting for this day -- when Alaska says 'Aloha' to Hawaii -- for years," said Gregg Saretsky, Alaska Airlines' executive vice president of flight and marketing. "Customers now will be able to enjoy Alaska's unique brand of service and earn Mileage Plan miles whether they're booking a flight or a complete vacation package to the beautiful islands of Hawaii."

The new Seattle-Honolulu flights depart Seattle-Tacoma International Airport at 8:40 a.m. Pacific time and arrive at Honolulu International Airport at 12:03 p.m. Hawaii time. Return flights depart Honolulu at 1:33 p.m. Hawaii time and arrive in Seattle at 10:15 p.m. Pacific time. The service offers convenient connections for travelers in other cities served by Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air throughout the Pacific Northwest and state of Alaska.

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 includes Alaska Airlines' digEplayer, a personal entertainment system offering a variety of movies, television shows, music and other features. The systems include a channel devoted to Hawaii programming, including extreme surfing programs and the television show "Hawaii Five-O."

Alaska's Hawaii flights are available for purchase at alaskaair.com or by calling (800) ALASKAAIR. Alaska Airlines Vacations also offers a full line of vacation packages for travel to the islands of Oahu, Kauai, Maui and the Big Island of Hawaii. Packages include air transportation, hotel accommodations, ground transportation and tours.

Alaska Airlines and its sister carrier, Horizon Air, serve 92 cities through an expansive network in Alaska, the Lower 48, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico. This year Alaska Airlines celebrates its 75th anniversary, marking the airline's growth from a single-aircraft operation in 1932 to one of the largest U.S. carriers. For reservations, visit alaskaair.com. For more news and information, visit the Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air Newsroom at alaskaair.com/newsroom.

CONTACT: Amanda Tobin Bielawski, +1-206-392-5134, or Caroline Boren,
+1-206-392-5799 both of Alaska Airlines

Web site: http://www.alaskaair.com/