Horizon Air Begins Ski Season Flights to Mammoth Mountain Resort

The timing couldn’t be better for ski enthusiasts. Just as a load of fresh snow hits California’s popular Mammoth winter resort area, Horizon Air inaugurates new flights tomorrow from Los Angeles (LAX) to Mammoth Lakes.

"It is now faster than ever 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 from L.A., you can take a 65-minute flight, arrive in Mammoth in time for a relaxing dinner and hit the slopes early the next morning.”

To celebrate, Mammoth Mountain is displaying one of its gondolas in LAX’s Terminal 3 ticket area as well as decorating the flight gate area to resemble a ski lodge.

The seasonal daily service runs through April 12, 2009. The flight departs 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.

Flight reservations are available online at www.horizonair.com. Convenient Mammoth vacation packages are also available through Horizon Air Getaways. Packages include airfare on Horizon and Alaska Airlines, a variety of lodging choices, and several additional options (e.g., lift tickets, car rentals, spa treatments, and other features that vary by destination). Horizon Air Getaways packages are available online at www.horizonairgetaways.com or by calling 1-877-359-4674.

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 is 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.

Just 15 minutes from 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, dipping into the hot springs, snowmobiling and dog sledding. More information about Mammoth is available at www.MammothMountain.com. Mammoth vacation packages are available by calling 800-MAMMOTH.

Horizon’s fleet serves 47 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).

Mammoth Mountain Ski Area is the leading four-season mountain resort in California. The company owns and operates a variety of resort businesses, including recreation, hospitality, real estate development, food and beverage, and retail.