Horizon Air Announces Daily Flights to Mammoth

MAMMOTH LAKES, CA — Horizon Air announced today the airline will offer new daily nonstop flights from Los Angeles to Mammoth Mountain for the 2008/2009 winter sports season starting Dec. 18.

“The addition of commercial air service to Mammoth represents a big step toward realizing our shared vision to become a destination resort community,” said Rusty Gregory, CEO of Mammoth Mountain. “Horizon’s daily flights will allow the world to experience what Southern Californians have known for decades; that Mammoth is for everyone who wants to play big in the mountains. World class skiing and snowboarding in the winter along with fishing, hiking, golf and mountain biking in the summer plus great new food offerings provided by our partner, Patina Restaurant Group – it just doesn’t get any better than Mammoth.”

Horizon’s new flight is expected to boost tourism to Mammoth by facilitating inbound travel from a wide variety of national and international airlines that fly into LAX. Similarly, travelers from Mammoth will gain an easier way to travel, with connections to dozens of destinations coast to coast and around the world served by Alaska, Horizon and other airlines at LAX.

The new daily service runs from Dec. 18, 2008, through April 12, 2009. The one-hour-and-five-minute flight departs Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) daily at 2:20 p.m. and arrives at Mammoth Yosemite Airport (MMH) at 3:25 p.m. The return flight leaves Mammoth at 4:05 p.m. and arrives at LAX at 5:10 p.m.

“Winter sports enthusiasts, can you smell the powder? Horizon is now providing a quick and convenient way to access this world-class recreation area,” said Dan Russo, Horizon’s vice president of marketing and communications. “Instead of a drive of five hours or more, you’ll be able to take a 65-minute flight, arriving in Mammoth in time for a relaxing dinner before hitting the slopes the next day.”

Just 15 minutes from the Mammoth Yosemite Airport, Mammoth Mountain currently hosts more than 1.1 million skiers per year, making it the third most visited mountain resort in the country. Mammoth Mountain is Southern California’s favorite mountain resort, well known for long seasons and plentiful snowfall. Mammoth is consistently ranked among the top ski resorts in the country by SKI Magazine and boasts one of the most recognized terrain parks in the world. Other winter activities around Mammoth include cross-country skiing, ice skating, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and dog sledding.

“We are thrilled to be working with Horizon Air to provide long-awaited air service to the community of Mammoth Lakes,” said Rob Clark, Town Manger for the Town of Mammoth Lakes. “We have worked long and hard to bring regularly scheduled air service to support tourism to our resort town and provide residents with convenient access to Los Angeles and other metropolitan areas.”

For a limited time, introductory fares of $79 each way for travel from Los Angeles to Mammoth are available for selected days in January 2009. Regular fares from Los Angeles start as low as $99 each way.* Tickets for the new flights go on sale July 14. To purchase a complete Mammoth vacation package including transportation, lodging and lift tickets, call 800-MAMMOTH. Flights may also be purchased through horizonair.com.

Members of the Horizon Air/Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan frequent flier program can earn 500 miles on Horizon flights to Mammoth. Mileage Plan miles are redeemable for flights worldwide on Horizon, Alaska, and their numerous Mileage Plan partner airlines.

Horizon’s flight to Mammoth will be operated with the airline’s Bombardier Q400. This 74/76-seat, high-speed, twin-engine turboprop is one of the most technologically advanced regional aircraft in the world. It’s as quiet and comfortable as a jet – thanks to its special technology that suppresses noise and vibration, its generously sized overhead storage bins, its unobstructed under-seat space, and its ample headroom (6 feet 5 inches). The Q400 is also among the most environmentally friendly aircraft today, burning 30 percent less fuel and producing 30 percent lower emissions than comparable jets.

Horizon’s fleet serves 48 cities throughout Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Baja California Sur (Mexico), and British Columbia and Alberta (Canada). Together, Horizon Air and Alaska Airlines serve 93 cities and are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK).

FARE RULES: Valid between Los Angeles (LAX) and Mammoth (MMH). For $79 each way fare shown, valid Sun-Wed to Mammoth and Tues-Fri from Mammoth on flights Jan. 4-30, 2009. Fares of $79 and $99 must be purchased 7 days or more before travel. For all fares shown, complete travel by 4/12/09. Blackout dates: None. Not included in the fares shown: airport passenger facility charges of up to $9 (amount depends on itinerary), federal segment tax of $3.50 per segment (takeoff and landing), and U.S. Security Fee of $2.50 per enplanement. Other important information: Tickets are nonrefundable, but can be changed for a fee plus any applicable change in fare. The change fee prior to July 16, 2008, is $50 when changes are made online at horizonair.com or alaskaair.com ($75 on or after July 16, 2008), $75 when made through our reservation call centers or ticket counters ($100 on or after July 16, 2008), and $100 when originally booked through a travel agent and changes are made through our reservation call centers or ticket counters ($125 on or after July 16, 2008). Seats are limited and may not be available at these fares on all flights or all days. All fares, taxes and fees are subject to change without notice, and other restrictions apply. A ticket purchased at a Horizon Air or Alaska Airlines airport location or through one of our reservation call centers will cost $15 more per person. Passengers may check one bag for free; a second bag may be checked for $25, and a fee of $100 will be assessed for each additional checked bag. Additional fees apply to overweight or oversized checked baggage. See horizonair.com for complete fare rules. All schedules subject to change without notice.

Mammoth Mountain Ski Area is the leading four-season mountain resort in California. With 1.6 million annual skier visits, Mammoth Mountain is currently the third most frequented ski resort in the United States. The company owns and operates a variety of resort businesses including recreation, hospitality, real estate development, food and beverage and retail. Specific businesses owned and operated by Mammoth Mountain include Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, June Mountain, Tamarack Lodge and Resort, Mammoth Snowmobile Adventures, Mammoth Mountain Bike Park and the Mammoth Mountain Inn. Mammoth Mountain also operates Juniper Springs Resort, the Village at Mammoth and Sierra Star Golf Course in Mammoth Lakes, California. For more information on Mammoth Mountain, visit MammothMountain.com or call 800.MAMMOTH.