SEATTLE, Apr 28, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air began service to Denver today with six daily nonstop flights from the Pacific Northwest.

Alaska introduced three flights from Seattle, while Horizon opened with two from Portland and one from Boise. The carriers are celebrating the new service with special inaugural fares, beginning as low as $119 each way, based on roundtrip purchase.

In conjunction with the start of service, Alaska is also offering double Mileage Plan miles on flights originating or terminating in Denver through June 15.

"These new routes give passengers the opportunity to connect in Seattle, Portland and Boise to other Alaska and Horizon destinations throughout the Northwest, Alaska and Western Canada," said Bill Ayer, Alaska's president and chief executive officer. "And it introduces our award-winning service to the fourth-largest market for travelers from Seattle."

In addition to the special fares, the carriers are giving $20 gift certificates for dinner at McCormick and Schmick's seafood restaurants to every passenger the first 30 days of service.

Airline and airport officials and passengers in Seattle and Denver joined in festivities and ribbon-cutting ceremonies. Alaska serves the Denver market with 138-seat Boeing 737-400s, including 12 First Class seats. Horizon service is with new 70-seat Bombardier CRJ-700 jets.

Sample fares each way from/to Denver based on roundtrip service
are:
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Boise                                                           $119
Seattle, Spokane, Portland or Vancouver                         $149
Oakland, Reno, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento or Calgary   $159
Yakima, Bellingham, Eugene, Idaho Falls or Missoula             $169
Victoria, Edmonton or Kelowna                                   $179
Anchorage, Juneau, Sitka or Ketchikan                           $215
Fairbanks                                                       $225
Kodiak, Bethel, King Salmon or Dillingham                       $245
Nome, Barrow, Kotzebue                                          $295

A 14-day advance purchase and a Friday or Saturday-night stay are required. Tickets must be purchased by May 9 for travel between May 12 and August 30. Tickets can be changed for a $50 fee, plus any applicable difference in fare. Seats are limited and may not be available on all flights and days.

Sample fares do not include airport passenger facility charges of up to $18; the federal segment tax of up to $3 per takeoff and landing; or the September 11th Security Fee of $2.50 per enplanement, up to $10. Fares to Canada do not include U.S. customs and immigration fee of $7; the Canadian airport improvement fees, which vary by airport; or the Canadian security charge of $8 for travel after June 1.

Double Miles are valid only for Mileage Plan members on flights originating or terminating in Denver. Flights must be flown by June 15 and credited to Mileage Plan. Other restrictions apply. Mileage Plan enrollment is available online at www.alaskaair.com.

The nation's ninth largest carrier, Alaska celebrates its 70th anniversary this year. The carrier was recently ranked No. 1 in the annual Airline Quality Ratings compiled by Wichita State University and the University of Nebraska at Omaha. And readers of Travel+Leisure magazine recently named Alaska the "World's Best Domestic Airline."

Horizon, which has one of the youngest fleets of any U.S. regional airline, was the North American launch customer for the Bombardier CRJ-700 and the Q400. And it was the first U.S. airline to be certified by the FAA to fly the CRJ-700 in commercial service.

Alaska and Horizon Air together serve 80 cities in the Lower 48, Alaska, Canada and Mexico.

For reservations go to www.alaskaair.com, call Alaska's toll-free reservations line at 1-800-ALASKAAIR (1-800-252-7522) or visit www.horizonair.com, call Horizon's reservation line at 1-800-547-9308 or call your travel agent. For more news and information, visit the Alaska Airlines Newsroom on the Internet at http://newsroom.alaskaair.com or the Horizon Air Newsroom at http://newsroom.horizonair.com.

CONTACT: Alaska Airlines Jack Walsh, 206/901-8753 OR Horizon Air Cheryl Temple, 206/431-4672