PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 19, 2001--Horizon Air announced today it will begin new nonstop jet service between Portland and Tucson once daily starting Feb. 10.

Horizon is the only airline offering nonstop flights on the route.

The Portland-Tucson flight will depart Portland daily at 1:40 p.m. The Tucson-Portland flight will depart Tucson daily at 12:40 p.m. The two-hour-and-40-minute nonstop flight will cut about two hours off the shortest air travel time currently available between Portland and Tucson.

Traveling from other Oregon cities to Tucson will also be more convenient with new connections over Portland from Eugene, Klamath Falls, Medford, North Bend/Coos Bay, Pendleton and Redmond/Bend.

"Tucson's rich cultural heritage, spectacular desert scenery and warm sunny weather make it an attractive addition to the Horizon Air route system," said Patrick Zachwieja, Horizon Air vice president of marketing and planning. "And now all of Oregon can be more easily enjoyed by those traveling there from Tucson. We're delighted to make flying between these two important cities easier for our customers."

The Portland-Tucson flights will be operated with new, 70-seat CRJ-700 regional jets. Horizon is the first airline in North America to operate the CRJ-700, one of the world's quietest commercially operated jet aircraft. The CRJ-700 has far less noise and fuel emissions than required by even the most environmentally sensitive airports. The CRJ-700's cabin features two seats on either side of the aisle (no middle seats) and roomy overhead storage bins.

Horizon, a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group, Inc., also said it will offer two jet flights every business day between Tucson and San Jose starting Feb. 10, one day after sister company Alaska Airlines discontinues its one daily flight on the route. The Tucson-San Jose flights will depart Tucson at 7:50 a.m. daily except Sunday and 5:55 p.m. daily except Saturday. The San Jose-Tucson flights will depart San Jose at 9:20 a.m. daily except Sunday and 7:25 p.m. daily except Saturday. Flight time is two hours each way. Alaska Airlines will continue to offer nonstop jet service between Tucson and Seattle twice daily.

Reservations are available now by calling any travel agent or Horizon Air (800/547-9308), or booking on the Web at www.horizonair.com. A variety of economical Tucson vacation packages are available from any Horizon or Alaska Airlines city through Alaska Airlines Vacations (800/468-2248) or on the Web at www.horizonair.com.

Horizon has served Portland since 1981 and currently offers nonstop service from this city to 15 cities throughout Idaho, California, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia. Horizon has served San Jose since 1996 with nonstop jet service to Boise.

Horizon Air serves 40 cities throughout California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Alberta and British Columbia. Horizon Air and Alaska Airlines are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group, Inc.

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