SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 6, 2003--Alaska Airlines will add 18 nonstop cargo flights to Cordova to accommodate the opening of Copper River salmon season on May 14.

Alaska officials said the additional flights were warranted in light of last year's record haul of 384,000 pounds of the highly prized salmon, which is sought after by seafood lovers for its rich flavor and velvety texture.

"Our goal is to get these fish to market in just a matter of hours," said Keola Pang-Ching, Alaska Airlines' director of cargo, noting that the first fish of the season should be available in supermarkets and restaurants in Washington and elsewhere the same day the season opens.

Copper River salmon are the first salmon of the season to return to Alaska and can fetch as much as $20 a pound at the market. Each of Alaska's Boeing 737-200 aircraft can carry about 30,000 pounds of the fish.

The length of the initial opener has not yet been announced. Each opener is timed by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to allow a portion of the fish to escape upriver to provide for the long-term survival of the fishery.

In light of the need to position aircraft in advance of the opener, Alaska Airlines is offering highly discounted freight rates for service into Cordova.

The nation's ninth largest carrier and known for its award-winning customer service, Alaska Airlines also carried more than 141 million pounds of cargo throughout its system in 2002. Alaska and its sister carrier, Horizon Air, together serve 85 cities in the Lower 48, Alaska, Canada and Mexico. For more information about shipping cargo on Alaska Airlines, visit alaskaair.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
             or
             Jack Evans, 206/433-3134

    SOURCE: Alaska Airlines