SEATTLE, Oct 28, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Alaska Airlines (NYSE:ALK) today inaugurated daily nonstop service between Seattle and the New York area's Newark Liberty International Airport.

Alaska operates the daily flight with new 120-seat, Next Generation Boeing 737-700s.

"This gives our loyal customers in the West the opportunity to enjoy Alaska's award-winning service as they travel to New York," said Gregg Saretsky, the carrier's executive vice president of marketing and planning. "And it gives New Yorkers the chance to experience the service that has made Alaska the dominant West Coast carrier."

Seattle-Newark is the sixth new route Alaska has added within the last year.

To celebrate the launch of the new service, Alaska Airlines is offering double Mileage Plan miles through Dec. 31 on all flights between the two cities.

Mileage Plan, Alaska's frequent flyer program, offers members 10 airline partners to choose from for mileage earning and award travel, including Continental Airlines and three other major U.S. carriers - more than any other frequent flyer program. Members can earn and redeem miles to destinations around the world.

Customers who are not Mileage Plan members may enroll online at alaskaair.com and receive 500 bonus miles.

The eastbound flight to New York/Newark, Flight 8, departs Seattle at 8:45 a.m. and arrives at Newark Liberty International at 5:01 p.m. The westbound return, Flight 7, departs Newark at 6:00 p.m. and arrives in Seattle at 9:10 p.m.

Double miles are valid on qualifying paid flights operated by Alaska Airlines and credited to an Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan account. Double miles apply to actual miles flown and do not count toward elite level status. The promotion is subject to change without notice, and all terms and conditions of the Mileage Plan program apply.

Alaska Airlines, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary, is the ninth largest commercial air carrier in the United States. The carrier was recently ranked No. 1 in the annual Airline Quality Ratings compiled by the University of Nebraska at Omaha and Wichita State University. And readers of Travel+Leisure magazine recently named Alaska the "World's Best Domestic Airline."

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

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

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