SEATTLE, Jul 31, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Alaska Airlines yesterday withdrew its request to provide temporary service to Long Beach Airport until permanent take off and landing slots are available.

In the interim, Alaska's regional affiliate, Horizon Air, has filed an application with the City of Long Beach to begin service to Seattle on October 6.

Horizon will operate three daily nonstop flights using quiet, 70-passenger, state-of-the-art CRJ-700 jets under a separate authority. Horizon is the first airline in North America to operate the CRJ-700, one of the world's quietest commercially operated jet aircraft. The CRJ-700 has far less noise and fuel emissions than allowed by even the most environmentally sensitive airports.

Alaska officials said they decided to forego operating at this time in favor of Horizon because of a continuing inability to secure temporary slots allocated to large jet operators from local authorities. The airline had hoped to be able to provide service to Seattle with 120-seat Boeing 737-700 jets.

"We regret to have to inform the people of Long Beach that we won't be returning in September, but rest assured we're hopeful we'll be back in the near future," said Gregg Saretsky, Alaska's executive vice president of marketing and planning. "Meanwhile, passengers flying between Long Beach and Seattle will have the opportunity to experience what travelers elsewhere repeatedly say is the best regional service in the nation, offered by our sister carrier, Horizon Air."

Saretsky also said Alaska would continue to work cooperatively with the City of Long Beach and federal officials in its pursuit of permanent slots at Long Beach.

"Long Beach has played an important role in Alaska's past growth in Southern California, and our company is committed to the community and to the market," Saretsky said. "Providing service to Long Beach is vital to our long-term strategy for continued growth in the region." Alaska last served Long Beach in 1995 after 13 years of operation at the airport.

Currently, only 41 daily flights are permitted to and from Long Beach by larger carriers such as Alaska due to noise restrictions at the city-owned airport. Meanwhile, 25 daily flights are permitted for other carriers such as Horizon.

Pending final approval, Horizon plans to operate the following schedule to and from Long Beach:

From Long Beach to Seattle
Flight 2431................Departs 6:30 a.m.......Arrives 9:10 a.m
Flight 2504................Departs 11:55 a.m......Arrives 2:35 p.m.
Flight 2508(a).............Departs 5:20 p.m.......Arrives 7:59 p.m.
(a)Daily except Saturday
From Seattle to Long Beach
Flight 2501................Departs 8:35 a.m.......Arrives 11:15 a.m
Flight 2434(a).............Departs 2:00 p.m.......Arrives 4:40 p.m.
Flight 2503(a).............Departs 7:00 p.m.......Arrives 9:40 p.m.
Flight 2505(b) ............Departs 5:00 p.m.......Arrives 7:40 p.m.
(a) Daily except Saturday. (b) Saturday only.

Founded 20 years ago, Horizon Air has grown to become the nation's 10th largest regional airline, serving nearly five million passengers last year. Together with Alaska, the carriers serve 80 cities in Alaska, Canada, the Lower 48 and Mexico.

Reservations for the new flights will be available on the Web at www.horizonair.com, or by calling Horizon Air at 800/547-9308. For more information about Horizon Air, visit the Horizon Air Newsroom on the Internet at http://newsroom.horizonair.com.

CONTACT:          Alaska Airlines
                  Jack Evans, 206/433-3134
                  or
                  Horizon Air
                  Cheryl Temple, 206/431-4672

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