Alaska Airlines Applies to U.S. Department of Transportation to Serve Mexico City
23 Febbraio 2005 - 10:22PM
PR Newswire (US)
Alaska Airlines Applies to U.S. Department of Transportation to
Serve Mexico City SEATTLE, Feb. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alaska
Airlines applied to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for
authority to provide twice-daily, nonstop service between Los
Angeles and Mexico City beginning as early as May 1, 2005. "Our
17-year commitment to Mexico and ongoing investment in our growing
route system there make Alaska Airlines ideally suited to serve the
needs of West Coast passengers traveling to and from Mexico City,"
said Joe Sprague, Alaska's staff vice president of public and
government affairs. "We will expand the choice of carriers serving
Mexico's capital, while bringing our award-winning service to
another top year-round destination in Mexico." Alaska Airlines
introduced service to Mexico in 1988 and is now the largest Los
Angeles-Mexico and U.S. West Coast-Mexico carrier, serving eight
Mexican cities. The airline is the only applicant for the route
that does not currently serve Mexico City and has pursued Los
Angeles-Mexico City authority for the past 14 years. In its Feb. 22
application, Alaska Airlines proposed two daily flights with
Seattle-Los Angeles-Mexico City and Portland-Los Angeles-Mexico
City routings, which would extend the benefits of Mexico City
service far into the Pacific Northwest. With a West Coast route
system extending from Mexico through 35 cities in California,
Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and Alaska, plus 38 points
served by sister carrier Horizon Air, Alaska Airlines offers a full
spectrum of West Coast connections with Mexico City unmatched by
any other carrier. The United States-Mexico bilateral agreement
governing air service between the two countries limits U.S. service
to Mexico City to two carriers. Delta Air Lines' discontinuation of
service to Mexico City at the end of January created an opening for
another carrier to fly the route in addition to United Airlines. A
DOT decision is expected in the spring, and Alaska would commence
service as soon as possible following both U.S. and Mexican
approvals. In July 2004 Alaska was voted the best major domestic
carrier by readers of Travel & Leisure magazine. The airline
also has received frequent recognition for its technology
innovations, including being the first carrier to sell tickets on
the Internet and provide Internet check-in. Alaska and its sister
carrier, Horizon Air, together serve more than 80 cities in Alaska,
the Lower 48, Canada and Mexico. For reservations visit
http://www.alaskaair.com/. For more news and information, visit the
Alaska Airlines newsroom on the Internet at
http://newsroom.alaskaair.com/. DATASOURCE: Alaska Airlines
CONTACT: Caroline Boren, +1-206-392-5799, or Sam Sperry,
+1-206-392-5038, both of Alaska Airlines Web site:
http://www.alaskaair.com/
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