Alaska Airlines Continues Growth in Seattle With Albuquerque and Baltimore Service

SEATTLE, March 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Alaska Airlines is growing its Seattle hub again with the addition of new daily nonstop service to Albuquerque, N.M., and Baltimore. The cities are in addition to previously announced service to Detroit, New Orleans and Tampa, Fla., scheduled to begin this June and September. 

"We're delighted to serve our customers by adding even more cities to our unsurpassed route network from our hometown of Seattle," said Joe Sprague, vice president of marketing. "These five new destinations add to what was already more flights to more destinations from Seattle than any other airline."

With the new flights, Alaska Airlines will now offer 279 peak-day departures nonstop to 78 destinations from Seattle.

Summary of new daily service:

• Seattle – New Orleans: starting June 12
• Seattle – Tampa: starting June 20
• Seattle – Baltimore: starting Sept. 2
• Seattle – Detroit: starting Sept. 4
• Seattle – Albuquerque: starting Sept. 18

Other Schedule Changes

As part of its overall network strategy, Alaska Airlines is discontinuing service between four city pairs: Los Angeles and San Jose, Calif., on April 5; Portland, Ore., and Long Beach, Calif., on Aug. 23; Atlanta and Portland on Sept. 1; and previously announced summer Anchorage-Denver flights.

"While it's unfortunate to eliminate service to any market, these moves are part of our strategy to strengthen the performance of Alaska Airlines' network," said Andrew Harrison, vice president of planning and revenue management. "By exiting underperforming markets, we're able to redeploy aircraft and begin flying to new and underserved markets from Seattle."

Introducing Albuquerque and Baltimore

To celebrate the new service, which will be flown with Boeing 737-800 aircraft, Alaska Airlines is offering introductory fares starting at $99* for tickets between Seattle and Albuquerque and $119* each way between Seattle and Baltimore. Tickets must be purchased by April 3 with travel completed by Nov. 19, 2014. For complete fare rules—including blackout dates and advance purchase requirements—visit www.alaskaair.com or call 1-800-ALASKAAIR (1-800-252-7522 or TTY/TDD line 1-800-392-0228).

Summary of new service:

Alaska Airlines is also offering Mileage Plan members double miles on the new routes. With the ability to earn and redeem miles across 14 airline partners to more than 700 destinations worldwide, double miles help customers achieve their next award trip even faster. With Mileage Plan, customers enjoy generous availability on award redemptions, one-way travel awards, combination miles-and-money award redemptions, and no minimum spend requirement to reach elite status.

Alaska Airlines' Mileage Plan also rewards customers with elite status faster than any other frequent flier program. Elite-level status is earned for as little as 20,000 miles a year for travel only on Alaska Airlines. If customers combine travel on multiple airlines, elite-level status begins at 25,000 miles.

Alaska Airlines MVP, MVP Gold and Gold 75K Mileage Plan elite-level members enjoy priority boarding, two free checked bags, complimentary upgrades on Alaska, as well as bonus miles on every flight with Alaska and other elite-qualifying partner airlines, among other benefits. To qualify for this offer, travelers must be members of Alaska Airlines' Mileage Plan and register at www.alaskaair.com**. Customers who have not yet joined Mileage Plan can enroll online at no cost.

Note to media: High-definition b-roll of Alaska Airlines aircraft in operation is available for download http://youtu.be/EYd7DKdqeSs. Photos are also available in the airline's online image gallery at www.alaskaair.com/newsroom.

Alaska Airlines, a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK), together with its partner regional airlines, serves nearly 100 cities through an expansive network in Alaska, the Lower 48, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico. With more nonstop flights to Seattle than any other carrier, Alaska is widely regarded as the West Coast's major airline. Alaska Airlines has ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Traditional Network Carriers" in the J.D. Power North America Airline Satisfaction Study^SM for six consecutive years from 2008 to 2013. For reservations, visit www.alaskaair.com. For more news and information, visit the Alaska Airlines Newsroom at www.alaskaair.com/newsroom.

* Fare sale terms and conditions: The sale fare requires a 21-day advance purchase and is available for travel Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. All travel must be completed by Nov. 19, 2014. Fares include all taxes and fees including the September 11 Security Fee. Fares are in U.S. dollars and are subject to change without notice. Seats are limited and may not be available on all flights or all days. Tickets purchased at an Alaska Airlines airport location or through a reservation call center cost $15 more per person. Tickets are nonrefundable, but can be changed for a $125 fee and any applicable changes in fare. A $25 baggage fee will apply for each of the first two checked bags. Additional bags and overweight or oversize items cost $75 each. Visit www.alaskaair.com or call Alaska Airlines reservations at 1-800-ALASKAAIR for complete fare rules, including information about Alaska Airlines' checked baggage policy and other fare sale terms and conditions.

** Terms and conditions for double miles offer: Registration is required in order to receive double miles. For Seattle–Baltimore flights, members must register by Oct. 31 and earn double miles between Sept. 2 and Oct. 31, 2014. For Seattle–Albuquerque flights, customers must register by Oct. 31 and earn double miles between Sept. 18 and Oct. 31, 2014. Double miles between Seattle–Baltimore or Seattle–Albuquerque will not count toward Mileage Plan elite status. Offer valid only on qualifying, paid nonstop flights marketed and operated by Alaska Airlines. Flight miles must be credited to your Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan account in order to earn double miles. This offer is not valid on free or award travel tickets. Please allow four to six weeks for miles to be credited to your Mileage Plan account. All terms and conditions of the Mileage Plan program apply. Offer subject to change without notice. Visit www.alaskaair.com for complete details.

SOURCE Alaska Airlines