Alaska Airlines Launches Daily Service Between Seattle and Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

SEATTLE, July 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Alaska Airlines today launched new daily nonstop service between Seattle and Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Broward County Commissioner Barbara Sharief joined Alaska Airlines employees and community leaders in welcoming the flight when it landed at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport this morning.

"Our flights continue to provide travelers with convenient service between the Pacific Northwest and South Florida, with even easier access now to the popular cruise ship port of Fort Lauderdale," said Joe Sprague, Alaska Airlines' vice president of marketing.

With the introduction of Seattle-Fort Lauderdale service, Alaska Airlines is discontinuing flights to Miami, a city the airline has served from its Seattle hub since 2002. With 27 miles separating Miami and Fort Lauderdale airports, Sprague said the change should have little effect on customers.

"By redirecting our flights to the lower-cost and traveler-friendly Fort Lauderdale airport, we can serve the same geographic region and continue to offer our customers low fares," Sprague said.

Members of Alaska Airlines' Mileage Plan can earn double miles on the carrier's nonstop flights between Seattle and Fort Lauderdale for travel through Sept. 11, 2012. To qualify, customers must first register at www.alaskaair.com.

Alaska Airlines is operating the flights with Boeing 737-800 aircraft, accommodating 16 passengers in first class and 141 in the main cabin. All flights offer Alaska's Northern Bites® meal service, which provides passengers in the main cabin with a hot meal for $6 or a cheese and fruit platter for $7. The flights also offer Alaska's inflight entertainment system, a handheld video-on-demand device featuring more than 70 hit movies, along with television programs and other entertainment. The inflight entertainment players are complimentary in first class and available for $10 in the main cabin.

Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK), together serve more than 90 cities through an expansive network in Alaska, the Lower 48, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico. Alaska Airlines has ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Traditional Network Carriers" in the J.D. Power and Associates North America Airline Satisfaction Study(SM) for five consecutive years from 2008 to 2012. For reservations, visit www.alaskaair.com. For more news and information, visit the Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air Newsroom at www.alaskaair.com/newsroom.

Terms and conditions for Alaska Airlines' Mileage Plan double miles: Registration at www.alaskaair.com prior to the first qualifying flight is required in order to receive double miles. Other rules and restrictions apply to double mile promotions. Visit www.alaskaair.com for details.

SOURCE Alaska Airlines