Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air to Resume Portland and Seattle Operations Monday With Significantly Reduced Early Schedules

SEATTLE, Dec. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air announced they will resume operations in Portland, Ore., and Seattle Monday with significantly reduced early schedules due to ongoing weather conditions.

The snow, freezing rain and high winds that hit the region starting last week have severely impacted the airlines' operations, causing the carriers to suspend flights Sunday afternoon. The resumption of operations in Portland and Seattle is weather-dependent, and further cancellations and delays are likely.

"We are doing our best to operate as many flights as possible in the morning to get people where they need to go for the holidays," said Ben Minicucci, Alaska Airlines' chief operating officer. "We appreciate customers' patience and understanding as we contend with this unprecedented weather cycle that has disrupted travel throughout the region. Our operational decisions will continue to be guided by our commitment to safety."

Portland

Horizon's first flight is scheduled to depart Portland for Oakland at 6:45 a.m. Monday. Alaska's first flight out of Portland is a 7:30 a.m. departure to Boston.

"If weather conditions abate Monday in Portland, we plan to operate more flights as the day progresses, building to a normal schedule by afternoon," said Tom Gerharter, senior vice president of Horizon Air operations.

Seattle

    In Seattle, the following morning and midday Alaska Airlines flights are
scheduled to operate:

    Flight    Destination              Departure Time
    244       Los Angeles              6 a.m.
    61        Juneau                   7:50 a.m.
    81        Anchorage                8 a.m. (originally scheduled for 6 a.m.
                                               - two hour delay)
    83        Anchorage                8 a.m.
    20        Chicago                  8:35 a.m.
    202       Puerto Vallarta          9 a.m.
    200       Cancun                   9:10 a.m.
    87        Anchorage                10 a.m.
    324       San Jose                 10 a.m.
    460       Los Angeles              10 a.m.
    630       Phoenix                  10:25 a.m.
    206       Los Cabos                10:30 a.m.
    484       San Diego                11 a.m.
    75        Juneau                   11:25 a.m.
    662       Dallas-Ft. Worth         11:55 a.m.
    95        Anchorage                Noon
    648       Tucson                   12:20 p.m.
    636       Phoenix                  12:35 p.m.
    38        Minneapolis-St. Paul     12:35 p.m.
    16        Miami                    1:20 p.m.
    10        Orlando                  1:30 p.m.

Horizon Air plans to begin Seattle flying at 9 a.m. and requests that customers check online at horizonair.com for the status of their flights.

The airlines will provide a mid-morning update on the status of flights for the remainder of the day.

Before leaving for the airport, all customers are advised to check for the most current flight status information online at alaskaair.com or horizonair.com or by calling 1-800-252-7522 or 1-800-547-9308.

The airlines are working to re-accommodate passengers whose flight schedules have been disrupted. Passengers booked on a canceled flight may re- book on the next available flight without penalty or apply for a full refund of the unused portion of their ticket. Passengers wishing to exercise either of these options should call Alaska Airlines Reservations at 1-800-252-7522 or Horizon Air Reservations at 1-800-547-9308. Reservations lines will remain open 24 hours to serve customers who have been impacted.