SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)----Media representatives are invited to join Horizon Air officials and local civic and business leaders for new service inaugural ceremonies at airports in Arcata/Eureka and Redding on Monday morning, April 25.

Horizon is launching new twice-daily service from the two cities to Los Angeles International Airport. The flights will mark the first-ever direct and nonstop air service between these two upstate communities and the City of Angels.

At Arcata/Eureka Airport, an opening reception is scheduled for 8:30 a.m., with remarks from Humboldt County Board of Supervisors Chairman Roger Rodoni, Redwood Economic Development Executive Director Gregg Foster and Horizon Air Director of Marketing and Communications Dan Russo. The inaugural flight is scheduled to depart Arcata/Eureka at 10 a.m., making a stop in Redding before continuing on to Los Angeles.

In Redding, Mayor John Mathena and Redding Airport Manager Rod Dinger are hosting a reception for passengers and guests starting at 9:30 a.m. Dinger, Mathena, and Horizon Vice President of Marketing and Planning Pat Zachweija are scheduled to make brief statements prior to the aircraft arriving from Arcata/Eureka at 10:30 a.m. The inaugural flight to Los Angeles departs Redding at 11:30 a.m.

The new twice-daily service allows Arcata/Eureka and Redding-area air travelers to fly to L.A. without the hassles and delays of connecting in San Francisco or making a long drive to another airport.

The flight schedule to Los Angeles is timed for convenient point-to-point service and easy connections to other Southern California cities and a variety of Mexico resort destinations served by Horizon`s sister company, Alaska Airlines. Horizon will continue to operate direct service from Arcata/Eureka and Redding to Portland with one daily flight each way that continues on to Seattle.

The new service is being supported by a grant sponsored by the city of Redding and the Humboldt County Aviation Division through the U.S. Department of Transportation`s Small Community Air Service Development Pilot Program.

The new direct flights to Los Angeles will be operated with 70 and 74-seat Q400s. With a top cruising speed of 400 mph, nonstop flights to Los Angeles will take only 1 hour and 50 minutes.

New Horizon flight schedule from Arcata/Eureka and Redding to Los Angeles, Portland and Seattle. (Morning schedule to/from Los Angeles and schedule to Portland and Seattle different on April 25 only, as noted above.) Depart Arcata/Eureka Arrive Los Angeles Stops Frequency 6 a.m. 8:45 a.m. 1 (Redding) Daily 6:30 p.m. 8:20 p.m. 0 Daily

Depart Los Angeles Arrive Arcata/Eureka Stops Frequency 9:25 a.m. 11:15 a.m. 0 Daily 8:55 p.m. 11:30 p.m. 1 (Redding) Daily

Depart Arcata/Eureka Arrive Portland Stops Frequency 11:45 a.m. 2:00 p.m. 1 (Redding) Daily

Depart Portland Arrive Arcata/Eureka Stops Frequency 3:30 p.m. 6:05 p.m. 1 (Redding) Daily

Depart Arcata/Eureka Arrive Seattle Stops Frequency 11:45 a.m. 3:20 p.m. 2 (Redding Daily & Portland)

Depart Seattle Arrive Arcata/Eureka Stops Frequency 2:30 p.m. 6:05 p.m. 2 (Redding Daily & Portland)

Depart Redding Arrive Los Angeles Stops Frequency 6:55 a.m. 8:45 a.m. 0 Daily 5:30 p.m. 8:20 p.m. 1 (Arcata/ Daily Eureka)

Depart Los Angeles Arrive Redding Stops Frequency 9:25 a.m. 12:20 p.m. 1 (Arcata/ Daily Eureka) 8:55 p.m. 10:45 p.m. 0 Daily

Depart Redding Arrive Portland Stops Frequency 12:45 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 0 Daily

Depart Portland Arrive Redding Stops Frequency 3:30 p.m. 5:06 p.m. 0 Daily

Depart Redding Arrive Seattle Stops Frequency 12:45 p.m. 3:20 p.m. 1 (Portland) Daily

Depart Seattle Arrive Redding Stops Frequency 2:30 p.m. 5:06 p.m. 1 (Portland) Daily

Horizon has served Redding since 1992 and Arcata/Eureka since 1994. Founded in 1981, Horizon currently serves 46 cities throughout California, Arizona, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and British Columbia and Alberta. The airline flew more than 5 million passengers last year. In 2004, Horizon`s average on-time performance exceeded that of all major continental U.S. airlines tracked by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Together, Horizon Air and Alaska Airlines serve more than 80 cities and are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK).

For more news, information and downloadable fleet photos, visit the Horizon Air Newsroom on the Web at http://newsroom.horizonair.com.