SEATTLE, Aug 22, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Big Apple, Biscayne Bay, or both.

Alaska Airlines' (NYSE:ALK) passengers now have that choice. The airline today announced new service to the New York City metropolitan area and to Miami to begin this fall.

Alaska will inaugurate one daily nonstop flight between Seattle and Newark International Airport on Oct. 28 and another daily nonstop flight between Seattle and Miami International Airport on Nov. 21.

Bill Ayer, Alaska's president and chief executive officer, said the addition of these new cities is the next logical step in the carrier's ongoing effort to build and strengthen its Seattle hub. Within the past year, the airline has successfully introduced service from Seattle to Boston, Denver and to the Washington, D.C. area.

"The New York City region and South Florida are top travel destinations for our frequent fliers," Ayer said. "We expect to duplicate the same success with both of these new destinations that we've had with Washington, Boston and Denver. I'm optimistic based on our strong Pacific Northwest presence and the opportunity to exchange traffic with our code share partners." Two of Alaska's code share partners, Continental Airlines and American Airlines, operate major hubs in Newark and Miami respectively.

Alaska will operate 120-seat Boeing 737-700s on both routes.

The eastbound flight to New York/Newark, Flight 8, will depart Seattle at 8:45 a.m. and arrive at Newark International at 5:01 p.m. The westbound return, Flight 7, will depart Newark at 6:00 p.m. and arrive in Seattle at 9:11 p.m.

The eastbound flight to Miami International, Flight 16, will depart Seattle at 8:40 a.m. and arrive at Miami at 5:10 p.m. The westbound flight, Flight 17, will leave Miami at 6:00 p.m. and arrive at 9:30 p.m.

The nation's ninth largest carrier, Alaska celebrates its 70th anniversary this year. Readers of Travel+Leisure magazine recently ranked Alaska Airlines the best among the major carriers. Alaska will now serve 51 cities in the Lower 48, Alaska, Canada and Mexico.

For reservations go to www.alaskaair.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
                  Jack Evans, 206/433-3134

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