Alaska Air to Fly Seattle-Kansas City, Horizon Air to Offer Palm Springs-San Jose

Alaska Airlines is launching nonstop daily service between Seattle and Kansas City in Missouri starting March 12, 2012.

Meanwhile, Alaska Airlines’ sister regional carrier Horizon Air is launching new seasonal service between Palm Springs and San Jose, California starting February 17, 2012.

The new nonstop California route will originate in Portland, Oregon and will operate throughout the year except between June 3 and October 4.

“Kansas City is the seventh-largest market in the country from Seattle that we do not currently serve,” says Joe Sprague, Alaska Airlines’ vice president of marketing. “We’re looking forward to bringing our award-winning customer service and our smiling Eskimo to the ‘Show Me’ state.”

Alaska Airlines operates Boeing 737-800s throughout its network and uses the model for most of its flights between the U.S. mainland and Hawaii

From March 12, Alaska Airlines’ new daily Seattle-Kansas City flight is scheduled to depart Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) at 8:45 a.m. and to arrive at Kansas City International Airport (MCI) at 2:15 p.m. local time. In the other direction, Alaska Airlines’ flight is timed to push back from the gate at MCI at 3:05 p.m. and to touch down at SEA at 5:00 p.m. local time.

Between February 17 and June 2, Horizon Air’s new Portland-San Jose-Palm Springs service is scheduled to leave Portland International Airport (PDX) at 9:20 a.m.  and land at Norman Y. Mineta International San Jose Airport (SJC) at 11:28 a.m. The flight will then depart from SJC at 12:05 p.m. and reach Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) at 1:29 p.m.  All three airports are in the Pacific time zone.

In the other direction, the Horizon Air flight is timed to push back from the gate at PSP at 2:05 p.m., in order to make a 3:41 p.m. arrival at SJC. The flight will then depart SJC at 4:20 p.m. and reach PDX at 6:21 p.m.

To introduce the new routes, Alaska Airlines is offering introductory $99 one-way fares between Seattle and Kansas City and $89 one-way fares between San Jose and Palm Springs. Tickets must be purchased by October 18, 2011, and can be used for travel through May 23, 2012. A 14-day advance purchase is required.

A pioneer operator of the Bombardier Q400, Horizon Air ― Alaska Airlines' sister airline in Alaska Air Group ― has had so much commercial success with the type that it has retired nearly all of its regional jets in favor of the high-capacity, fast turboprop type

Travel under the introductory fares is valid on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. A ticket purchased at an Alaska Airlines airport location or through a reservation call center will cost $15 more per person than the advertised fare.

Visit www.alaskaair.com to purchase a ticket or call 1-800-ALASKAAIR (1-800-252-7522 or TTY/TDD line 1-800-392-0228).

Members of Alaska Airlines’ Mileage Plan can also earn double miles on the carrier’s nonstop flights between Seattle and Kansas City from March 12 through April 25, 2012, and between San Jose and Palm Springs from February 17 through March 27, 2012. To qualify, customers must first register at www.alaskaair.com.

Alaska Airlines will operate the new Seattle-Kansas City route with Boeing 737s. Horizon Air will operate the seasonal San Jose-Palm Springs route with Bombardier Q400 fast turboprops.