SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 19, 2002--More than 5 million Alaska Airlines customers checked in electronically at self-check-in kiosks in 2001, setting a new record for the airline.

Alaska, along with its Alaska Air Group partner, Horizon Air, has been at the forefront of kiosk check-in since it introduced its first Instant Travel Machine in 1996. Nearly 400 of the self-check-in ITMs scattered through 70 of the 77 cities Alaska and Horizon serve in the United States, Canada and Mexico, make kiosk check-in available to nearly every customer.

"Our continual increase in kiosk check-ins show that customers are embracing this technology and recognize the convenience it provides," said Ed White, Alaska's vice president of ground operations. "ITMs benefit both customers and the airline and allow customer service agents opportunity to provide greater face-to-face service to those who need or want it."

System wide, more than 45 percent of eligible check-ins -- electronic ticket check-ins in cities with ITMs -- took advantage of self-service check-in kiosks in 2001. And in Anchorage, the percentage of ITM check-ins reached 70 percent.

In March 2001, Alaska set a milestone in commercial aviation history when it became the first airline in the world to board 10 million passengers via self-check-in kiosks since the introduction of the technology.

Today, Alaska and Horizon customers not only can check in and print their boarding passes at Instant Travel Machines but can also request and receive seat assignments, purchase first class upgrades and enter their Mileage Plan numbers. Alaska's ITMs are the only kiosks in the industry that allow passengers to receive boarding passes for up to four flight segments all at the same time.

In 1999 Alaska and Horizon extended self-check-in technology into the home and office when they became the first North American airlines to allow customers to check in and print their boarding passes via the Internet.

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

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