Oakland, Calif. (May 6, 2009) — Alaska Airlines today announced plans to launch trans-Pacific flights between Oakland International Airport (OAK) and both Maui and the Big Island of Hawaii, beginning Nov. 9, 2009. The new service marks Alaska Airlines’ first-ever from the San Francisco Bay Area to the Hawaiian Islands.

“Over the past decade there has been consistently strong demand for flights to the Hawaiian Islands from the Bay Area’s centrally-located and reliable Oakland International Airport,” said Deborah Ale Flint, assistant director of aviation for the Port of Oakland, which owns and operates OAK. “Bay Area residents love to start their vacation with an easy departure from Oakland, and these seven weekly flights to Maui and Kona make their travels that much easier,” continued Ale Flint.

Alaska will operate four weekly flights between OAK and Kahului Airport (OGG) on the island of Maui on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Three weekly flights between OAK and Kona International Airport (KOA), on the west side of Hawaii’s Big Island, will operate on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Flight times are as follows:

Alaska will use brand-new, high-tech Boeing 737-800 jet aircraft which seat 16 first class and 141 main cabin passengers. Flights to Maui and Kona are now on sale at www.alaskaair.com. These new flights are in addition to Alaska’s current schedule of flights between OAK and Seattle, and sister company Horizon Air’s service between OAK and Portland. Together, the two airlines are the second busiest carrier at OAK.

Service between OAK and Honolulu, Hawaii, is currently available. Bay Area travelers can now fly between OAK and the three most popular Hawaiian islands with the addition of Alaska’s Maui and Kona service.

About Alaska Airlines: 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 ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction among Traditional Network Carriers (tie)" in the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 North America Airline Satisfaction StudySM. For reservations and more information, visit www.alaskaair.com.

About the Port of Oakland
The Port of Oakland oversees the Oakland seaport, Oakland International Airport and 20 miles of waterfront. The Oakland seaport is the fifth busiest containerport in the U.S. Oakland International Airport offers 150 daily nonstop flights to 34 destinations; and the Port’s real estate includes commercial developments such as Jack London Square and hundreds of acres of public parks and conservation areas. The Port of Oakland was established in 1927 and is an independent department of the City of Oakland. Please visit: www.portofoakland.com and www.oaklandairport.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Oakland International Airport
Rosemary Barnes
(510) 563-2892
[email protected]

Alaska Airlines
Bobbie Egan
(206) 392-5134
[email protected]