SEATTLE, Jan 9, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Alaska Airlines (NYSE:ALK) announced today that it plans to initiate service to Vancouver, B.C. from John Wayne Airport in Orange County, Calif.

The Seattle-based airline will initiate its first daily nonstop service on April 28. The new service also marks the first international service from the Southern California airport.

"Since we first began service in Orange County in 1987, John Wayne Airport has become a very important part of our effort to provide comprehensive service between Southern California and the Pacific Northwest," said Gregg Saretsky, senior vice president of marketing and planning. In addition to John Wayne Airport, the other Southern California airports that Alaska Airlines serves are Los Angeles International, Burbank, Ontario, Palm Springs and San Diego.

"This service opens new opportunities in both directions for both business and leisure travel, considering Vancouver's importance as a gateway to cruising Alaska's famed Inside Passage and Orange County's convenient access to Disneyland," Saretsky said. In addition to the soon-to-be international service, Alaska currently provides service from Orange County to Oakland, Portland and Seattle.

The new service features a daily northbound flight that departs Orange County at 10:00 a.m. and arrives in Vancouver at 12:58 p.m. A daily flight departs southbound from Vancouver at 1:38 p.m. and arrives at Orange County at 4:33 p.m. The airline will operate 120-seat Boeing 737-700 aircraft on the route configured with 12 seats in first class and 108 in coach.

Last year the highly respected Zagat Airline Survey rated Alaska as the best major U.S. carrier. That recognition came on the heels of similar accolades from the readers of Travel & Leisure magazine, which also rated Alaska the best major U.S. airline.

For more news and information on Alaska Airlines as well as reservations, visit http://alaskaair.com.

CONTACT:          Alaska Airlines
                  Jack Walsh, 206/901-8753

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