SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 7, 2001--Alaska Airlines will increase flying between San Francisco and Mexico by nearly 50 percent this summer as it inaugurates year-round nonstop service to Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo and boosts the number of flights to Puerto Vallarta and Los Cabos.

Beginning June 10, the airline is scheduled to fly a total of 22 nonstop flights a week to Mexico from San Francisco, compared to 15 nonstop flights a week last summer.

"Interest in Mexico as a summer destination has grown as Bay Area travelers look for ways to get more value from their vacation dollar," said Gregg Saretsky, Alaska's senior vice president of marketing and planning.

The new nonstop service to Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo is scheduled to depart San Francisco Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. and arrive in Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo at 4:46 p.m. The return nonstop flight is scheduled to depart Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo at 5:28 p.m. Saturdays, arriving back in San Francisco at 8 p.m.

Alaska will continue to offer its same-plane, one-stop service to Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo from San Francisco via Los Angeles three times a week this summer on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

In addition to its daily service to Puerto Vallarta and Los Cabos, Alaska Airlines will add three weekly flights to each destination from San Francisco this summer.

Alaska will add a second flight to Puerto Vallarta on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and a second flight to Los Cabos on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

Nonstop service is also available Saturdays to Mazatlan from San Francisco.

Alaska Airlines serves 43 destination in Alaska, Canada, Mexico and the Lower 48. For reservations, visit Alaska Airlines online at www.alaskaair.com or call Alaska's toll-free reservations line at 1-800-ALASKAAIR (1-800/252-7522). Or call your travel agent.

Alaska Airlines offers a variety of vacation packages to Mexico -- including airfare, hotels, tours and car rentals. For more information, visit Alaska Airlines Vacations online at www.alaskaair.com. The site features colorful photos, along with detailed information about hotels and tours to help travelers make their vacation decisions.

For more news and information, visit the Alaska Airlines Newsroom on the Internet at http://newsroom.alaskaair.com.

--30--CER/se*