SEATTLE, May 20, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Alaska Airlines set a new cargo record carrying more than 384,000 pounds of highly prized Copper River salmon to market following the initial season opener.

Nine all-cargo 737 freighters joined 15 passenger flights from Cordova and Anchorage to carry nearly 100,000 more pounds of the salmon than last year.

"We added extra capacity in order to quickly bring fresh salmon to market and meet consumer demand," said Keola Pang-Ching, Alaska Airlines' director of cargo. "On opening day, salmon are pulled from the Gulf of Alaska in the morning and are on the dinner table that evening -- you can't get fresher than that."

Copper River salmon are the first salmon of the season to return to the rivers and streams of Alaska. They are known for their rich flavor and velvety texture.

This year, the season opener lasted only six hours, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, May 16. Salmon are the state of Alaska's greatest renewable resource. Alaska is considered the best regulated fishery in the world. The salmon harvest is timed to provide adequate escapement and future generations of fish.

The nation's ninth largest carrier, Alaska Airlines celebrates its 70th anniversary this year. Known for its award winning customer service, the airline also carried more than 141 million pounds of cargo in 2001. Alaska and its regional partner, Horizon Air, together serve 80 cities in the Lower 48, Alaska, Canada and Mexico. For information about shipping cargo on Alaska Airlines, visit Alaska Air Cargo at alaskacargo.com or call 1-800-2ALASKA. 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