SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 16, 2003--Horizon Air announced today the airline will begin new twice-daily nonstop service from Seattle to Kamloops/Sun Peaks, B.C., starting Dec. 15, 2003.

The new flights will mark the first-ever transborder service between Kamloops and the United States.

"Now it will be much easier for travelers from Seattle and the entire Horizon and Alaska Airlines network to enjoy skiing and other recreational opportunities in and around Kamloops," said Patrick Zachwieja, Horizon's vice president of Marketing and Planning.

Kamloops is host to Sun Peaks Resort, a world-class destination ski resort with 114 runs and 10 lifts, including three high-speed quads. With 3,480 acres of skiing terrain -- more than any other resort in the B.C. interior -- Sun Peaks has the third largest area of skiing terrain in Canada.

"One of the unique features that we offer skiers at our mountain is a village and hotels right at the base of the mountain, so that you can walk to the ski lifts in a matter of minutes," said Darcy Alexander, Sun Peaks Resort's vice president and general manager.

For residents of Kamloops, the new service will provide them with new convenient one-stop connections to dozens of cities in the U.S. and Mexico served by Horizon and its sister company, Alaska Airlines. Those cities include popular vacation destinations in the Pacific Northwest, Arizona, California, Nevada and Mexico, as well as Denver and the East Coast cities of Boston, New York, Washington, D.C., Miami and Orlando.

"We're very excited about this new nonstop air service from Seattle to Kamloops," said Kamloops Mayor Mel Rothenburger. "The convenience of these new flights will attract new tourists to our region and provide better access to Seattle and beyond for Kamloops-area residents."

The new service will be operated with 37-seat Q200 turboprops. It is currently scheduled for the ski season, but could become year-round if demand for travel to and from Kamloops remains strong, according to Zachwieja.

Reservations for the new service are available now and can be booked online at www.horizonair.com, or by calling a travel agent or Horizon Air at 1-800/547-9308.

Founded 21 years ago, Horizon Air has grown to become the nation's eighth largest regional airline, serving nearly 5 million passengers last year. Horizon Air and Alaska Airlines serve more than 80 cities throughout Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Florida, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Washington, Washington, D.C., Alberta, British Columbia, and Mexico. Horizon Air and Alaska Airlines are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK).

For more news and information, visit the Horizon Air Newsroom on the Web at http://newsroom.horizonair.com.

Seattle-Kamloops, B.C. Schedule  (effective Dec. 15, 2003)

From Seattle to Kamloops
Departs 1:00 p.m.  Arrives 2:15 p.m.
Departs 6:45 p.m.  Arrives 8:00 p.m.

From Kamloops to Seattle
Departs 6:00 a.m.  Arrives 7:15 a.m.
Departs 2:45 p.m.  Arrives 4:00 p.m. 

    CONTACT: Horizon Air
             Cheryl Temple, 206/431-4672
             cheryl.temple@horizonair.com
             or
             Sun Peaks Resort Logo
             Vince Accardi, 250/319-1159
             vaccardi@sunpeaksresort.com
             or
             City of Kamloops
             Bobbe Harrison, 250/828-3494
             bharrison@city.kamloops.bc.ca

    SOURCE: Horizon Air