SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 2, 2003--Alaska Air Group Web sites, alaskaair.com and horizonair.com, received top ranking today in the Online Customer Respect Study.

Conducted by The Customer Respect Group, the study brings an objective measure of performance from an online customer's perspective. It evaluated airline Web sites as well as other travel-sector Web sites.

Within the airline sector, Alaska and Horizon received a rating of 9.2 out of 10 -- the highest in the industry. The sector average was 8.1.

"Since 1995 when we sold our first ticket online, we've been committed to providing the very best Web site for our customers," said Steve Jarvis, staff vice president of e-commerce. "We've received tremendous response from our customers, but it's gratifying each time we get this type of recognition."

The Customer Respect Group measures 25 different attributes that make up the online customer experience. Alaska ranked particularly high in simplicity or the ease of use of the site, and in responsiveness to online inquiries. Other areas of evaluation include privacy, transparency, attitude and principles.

Overall, the airline sector ranked higher than the travel sector, which had an average score of 6.9.

"The online travel booking market is enormous," said Donal Daly, CEO of The Customer Respect Group. "Corporate online travel booking alone is estimated at about $7 billion this year and is projected to grow to $15 billion in 2005. Travel firms and airlines that succeed will be those that will leverage this phenomenal market. We congratulate Alaska Air Group on its tremendous showing."

The Customer Respect Group is an international research and consulting firm that uses its Customer Respect Index methodology to help companies improve how they treat their customers online. The Customer Respect Group is headquartered in Bellevue, WA. For additional information, visit www.customerrespect.com.

Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air became the first North American carriers to sell tickets online in 1995, and in 1999 they were the first carriers in the world to allow customers to check in for flights online via the Internet. Together they serve more than 80 cities in the Lower 48, Alaska, Canada and Mexico, with more than 1,000 daily departures.

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

    CONTACT: Alaska Airlines
             Jack Walsh, 206/901-8753
             or
             Jack Evans, 206/433-3134

    SOURCE: Alaska Airlines