SEATTLE, Oct 28, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Horizon Air will nearly double capacity between Seattle and Kelowna, B.C., during the upcoming ski season by replacing 37-seat aircraft with 70-seat aircraft on all flights Jan. 6 through March 29, 2003.

"Kelowna is the gateway to the Okanagan's famous champagne powder and has been very popular with skiers from throughout the West since we began service there in 1998. With our larger aircraft, more customers than ever before will be able to take advantage of today's very favorable exchange rates and enjoy this great winter destination," said Patrick Zachwieja, Horizon's vice president of marketing and planning.

All four daily weekday flights and three flights a day on weekends between Seattle and Kelowna currently operated with 37-seat Bombardier Q200 turboprops will be replaced with 70-seat Bombardier Q400 turboprops.

The Q400 brings a new level of passenger comfort. In the bright and modern interior, passengers have generous legroom approaching that found in many first-class cabins. There is also ample storage space above and under the seats. Thanks to its sophisticated noise and vibration suppression system, the Q400 boasts the quietest turboprop cabin in the sky. And with a top cruising speed of 360 knots (420 mph), the Q400 can fly passengers in close to the same amount of time as a jet on routes under two hours.

Reservations to Kelowna from any Horizon Air or Alaska Airlines city are available by calling Horizon Air at 800/547-9308, or by booking on the Web at www.horizonair.com. Complete ski packages to Big White Ski Resort and Silver Star Mountain Resort are also available on Horizon's Website or by calling Alaska Airlines Vacations at 800/468-2248.

Silver Star Mountain Resort and Big White Ski Resort are less than an hour away from Kelowna airport. Both ski resorts historically have lots of light, dry snow, with uncrowded slopes, numerous family activities and interchangeable ski lift tickets. Shuttles from the airport to both resorts are available along with a variety of ski-in, ski-out lodging accommodations.

Founded 21 years ago, Horizon Air served nearly five million passengers last year. Horizon serves cities throughout British Columbia, Alberta, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, California, Colorado and Arizona. Horizon Air and Alaska Airlines are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK).

For more information, visit Horizon Air's Newsroom at http://newsroom.horizonair.com.

CONTACT:          Horizon Air
                  Cheryl Temple, 206/431-4672
                  or
                  Dan Russo, 206/431-4513

URL:              http://www.businesswire.com
Today's News On The Net - Business Wire's full file on the Internet
with Hyperlinks to your home page.

Copyright (C) 2002 Business Wire.  All rights reserved.