Alaska Air says it will fly directly to islands

The Seattle-based airline will begin flying to Hawaii later this year

Alaska Air: Hawaii, here we come.

Seattle-based Alaska Airlines will begin flying to Hawaii later this year, the company announced today.

Beginning Oct. 12, the ninth-largest U.S. carrier launches its Seattle-Honolulu service. On Oct. 28 it launches Seattle- Lihue flights, and on Dec. 9 it begins a seasonal Anchorage-Honolulu route.

The carrier, which has a 75-year history, says its customers had been asking for Hawaii service for many years.

Seattle-based Alaska Airlines tossed its hat into the trans-Pacific aviation arena today by announcing plans for direct flights from Seattle and Anchorage, Alaska, to Hawaii.

Beginning Oct. 12, the ninth-largest U.S. carrier plans to launch daily Seattle-Honolulu service, followed by Seattle-Lihue service on Oct. 28. On Dec. 9 it begins its seasonal Anchorage-Honolulu service, which it says will run at least through mid-April.

Tickets are slated to go on sale today.

It enters a market already crowded with interisland and mainland carriers but is confident its reputation will set it apart from competitors.

"We have a 75-year history, a great legacy of customer service and strong following of customers who seek out our brand," said Gregg Saretsky, Alaska Airlines' executive vice president of flight and marketing. "There's been a long list of customers who for many years have been asking, 'When are you servicing Hawaii?' and we're happy to answer their question in the affirmative."

Northwest Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines each fly from Seattle to Kauai but do not offer nonstop service because the larger aircraft they fly have passenger load restrictions serving the Lihue airport, Alaska Airlines spokeswoman Caroline Boren said.

Alaska Airlines' code-share agreement with Hawaiian Airlines, which stretched back to the late 1990s, was terminated on April 30. A spokesman for Hawaiian said yesterday the company had no comment on the new service.

Alaska Airlines recently announced more nonstop flights between Seattle and Cancun, Mexico, starting Oct. 28.

Recent new nonstop flights to be launched this summer include those between Spokane, Wash., and San Diego, as well as between Anchorage and San Francisco, and between Portland, Ore., and Orlando, Fla.

In launching the new service, Alaska Airlines will offer introductory one-way fares: $109 between Seattle and Honolulu, $149 for Seattle-Lihue flights and $159 for Anchorage-Honolulu flights.

Customers must purchase their tickets by Saturday and travel by Dec. 13 from Seattle or by Feb. 14 from Anchorage.

In the future, Alaska Air might also consider expanding its connections to Kona and Kahului, said Saretsky.

"I always felt that the Alaska spirit and aloha spirit had similarities," said Saretsky. "We like to think that we're kindred spirits. ... Your aloha spirit is our Alaska spirit."