Alaska Airlines inaugural Oakland-Kona flight arrives Tuesday at Kona International Airport. (Photo courtesy BIVB)

Media releases compiled by Karin Stanton | Hawaii 24/7 Contributing Editor

Alaska Airlines’ Oakland-Kona service kicked off in fine style Tuesday, as the first flight arrived with more good news – the airline is set to add four more mainland flights next year.

The airline on Monday began its four-times-weekly service between Oakland and Kahului, Maui and its thrice-weekly service to Kona on Tuesday.

The Kona flight arrived shortly before noon, and passengers were welcomed with live entertainment, a goodie bag and a special greeting from Mayor Billy Kenoi.

In addition to welcoming the first arrivals, Kenoi said he was pleased to see the new flights coming directly to the Big Island, with nearly 500 seats available each week.

The added capacity is a boost for the island’s economy, he said, especially as fewer cruise ships are on 2009-2010 schedule and at least two airlines have quit Hawaii.

The new flights are operated with Boeing 737-800 aircraft, accommodating 16 passengers in first class and 141 in the main cabin.

All flights to Hawaii offer Hawaiian-themed beverages and meal service. Customers in the main cabin are offered complimentary Mauna Loa macadamia nuts and a complimentary Mai Tai or POG juice, as well as a Hawaiian-themed meal-for-purchase option for $6.

“Known for its beautiful beaches and stunning sunsets, the Hawaiian Islands are among our most popular leisure vacation destinations,” said Alaska Airlines’ President Brad Tilden. “Customers will enjoy Alaska’s low fares, convenient schedule and award-winning service.”

Of course, passengers’ trips will start at the Oakland airport.

“Travelers will start their vacation with a smooth departure from Oakland International, where they can park close to the terminals and quickly access their flight,” said Deborah Ale Flint, the Port of Oakland’s acting director of aviation. “Oakland’s on-time performance record allows passengers to easily begin their Alaska Airlines experience.”

San Jose-Kona begins March 12, 2010

With Tuesday’s announcement of additional flights beginning early next year, Alaska Airline’s Hawaii service will reach 73 roundtrips a week

The airline will inaugurate three-times-weekly service between San Jose, Calif., and Kahului, beginning March 11, and four-times-weekly service between San Jose and Kona starting March 12, 2010.

The airline also announced it will offer daily flights between Sacramento, Calif., and Maui starting March 26, 2010.

“In just two years, Hawaii has become a major part of our route network,” said Steve Jarvis, Alaska’s vice president of marketing, sales and customer experience. “With the new service we’re announcing today, Alaska Airlines will have 73 roundtrip flights a week serving the Hawaiian Islands, including 21 flights between Hawaii and the Bay Area and Sacramento. The low fares and Alaska Airlines Vacations packages we offer make Hawaii travel even more affordable.”

Alaska began service to Hawaii in October 2007. With these new markets, about 11 percent of Alaska Air Group’s capacity is now dedicated to Hawaii flying.

Alaska is offering introductory one-way fares of $169 between San Jose-Maui, San Jose-Kona and Sacramento-Maui, for tickets purchased by Nov. 24, 2009.

Additionally, Vacation Packages start at $599 to Maui and $523 to Kona.

Summary of new flights: (Times are based on local time zones)

Start date    City pair    Departure time    Arrival time    Day of week

Nov. 9  Oakland-Maui 7:45 a.m. 11:05 a.m.*   Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat

Nov. 9  Maui-Oakland 12:05 p.m.* 7:10 p.m. Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat

Nov. 10 Oakland-Kona 7:45 a.m.  11:15 a.m.* Tues, Thur, Sun

Nov. 10 Kona-Oakland 12:15 p.m.* 7:30 p.m.  Tues, Thur, Sun

Mar 11  San Jose-Maui 7:30 a.m. 11:05 a.m.*  Tues, Thur, Sun

Mar 11  Maui-San Jose  12:05 p.m.*  7:15 p.m. Tues, Thur, Sun

Mar 12  San Jose-Kona 7:30 a.m.  11:20 a.m.* Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat

Mar 12  Kona-San Jose 12:20 p.m.*  7:35 p.m. Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat

Mar 26  Sacramento-Maui 8:15 a.m. 10:50 a.m. Daily

Mar 26  Maui-Sacramento 11:50 a.m.  8 p.m.  Daily

*Beginning March 14, time of flight will be one hour earlier due to Daylight Savings Time.

Booking available now

The new flights are available for booking immediately by calling (800) ALASKAAIR (800-252-7522 or TTY/TDD line 800-392-0228) and at alaskaair.com

Fare Rules: Fares must be purchased by 11/24/09 and travel completed by 6/4/2010. Seats are limited and may not be available on all flights or all days. Some markets do not operate daily service. Vacations package prices shown include roundtrip airfare and are per person based on adult double-occupancy at the Kaanapali Beach Hotel in Maui and the Royal Kona Resort. Other hotels and lengths of stay available, prices will vary. All terms and conditions of Alaska Airlines Vacations apply.

Not included in the fares: Airport Passenger Facility charges of up to $9 (amount depends on itinerary), U.S. Federal Segment Tax of $3.60 per segment (takeoff and landing) and U.S. Security Fee of $2.50 per enplanement. All taxes and fees shown are based on one-way travel and may be doubled if traveling roundtrip.

Tickets are nonrefundable, but can be changed for a $75 fee when changes are made online ($100 when made through a reservation call center or ticket counter and $125 when originally booked through a travel agent and changes are made through a reservation call center or ticket counter) and any applicable changes in fare. A ticket purchased at a Horizon Air or Alaska Airlines airport location or through a reservation call center will cost $15 more per person than the advertised fare.

All fares, taxes and fees are in U.S. dollars and are subject to change without notice, and other restrictions apply. A $15 charge will apply to the first checked bag. A second bag may be checked for $25. Additional fees apply to check more than two bags and for overweight or oversized items. See checked baggage policy at alaskaair.com for more details.

Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK), together serve more than 90 cities through an expansive network in Alaska, the Lower 48, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico. Alaska Airlines ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Traditional Network Carriers” in the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 and 2009 North America Airline Satisfaction StudiesSM.

— Find out more:

alaskaair.com

Some of the first passengers off the inaugural Alaska Airlines flight from Oakland looked happy to be in Hawaii. (Photo courtesy of BIVB)

Mayor Billy Kenoi, with airport and airline staff, looked just as pleased to see them. (Photo courtesy of BIVB)