Alaska launching service
to Minneapolis and Kona
New routes part of network evaluation
to serve the most profitable markets
May 20, 2008
Alaska Airlines today announced it will inaugurate service between Seattle and Minneapolis and Seattle and Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii. The airline also announced it is expanding its seasonal service between Anchorage and Maui. The flights will be available for purchase starting May 22.
Alaska Airlines will offer year-round twice-daily flights between Seattle and Minneapolis starting Oct. 26, and year-round once-a-day service between Seattle and Kona beginning Nov. 17. Seasonal flights between Anchorage and Kahului on the island of Maui are increasing from twice to three times weekly from Oct. 31 to April 25, 2009.
Minneapolis, along with twin city St. Paul, are known for their lakes, Scandinavian heritage, arts and culture and the Mall of America, which includes an indoor amusement park.
For the new service, Seattle-Minneapolis flights will depart at 6:50 a.m. and 6:40 p.m. Pacific Time and arrive at 12:05 p.m. and 11:55 p.m. Central Time, respectively. Return flights will depart at 7:40 a.m. and 1:05 p.m. Central Time and arrive at 9:15 a.m. and 2:40 p.m. Pacific Time, respectively.
Seattle-Kona flights will depart at 8:40 a.m. Pacific Time and arrive at 1 p.m. Hawaii Time. Return flights will depart at 2 p.m. Hawaii Time and arrive at 9:40 p.m. Pacific Time.
Alaska will operate the flights with Boeing 737-800s. Vendors will provide below-the-wing service at the two new stations and customer service agents will likely be staffed through partnerships with other airlines, however, Harrison said those details “will be sorted out in the next five months.â€
To inaugurate its new service, Alaska Airlines is offering introductory one-way fares of $139 between Seattle and Minneapolis and $229 between Seattle and Kona. Customers must purchase their tickets by June 5, 2008, and travel by Feb. 12, 2009. Additional restrictions and blackout dates apply.
Alaska Airlines Vacations also offers a full line of vacation packages for travel to the Big Island of Hawaii, as well as to Oahu, Kauai and Maui. Packages include air transportation, hotel accommodations, ground transportation and tours.
In addition, Alaska customers can earn double Mileage Plan miles on flights between Seattle and Minneapolis from Oct. 26 to Dec. 31, 2008. To receive the double miles, customers need to register at alaskaair.com, starting May 21.