Aloha Airlines Begins New Nonstop Service to Kauai from Oakland International Airport

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Cyndy Johnson-OAK, (510) 563-2820
Rosemary Barnes-OAK, (510) 563-2892
OAK After Hours, (510) 563-3360
Stu Glauberman-Aloha, (808) 722-7318

OAKLAND, Calif., June 20, 2003 – Aloha Airlines today inaugurated nonstop service from Oakland International Airport to the Garden Island of Kauai.

The new Aloha flights, served by 737-700 aircraft, operate four days a week. Flights from Oakland operate Friday through Monday, departing from Oakland at 11:55 a.m. and arriving in Kauai (Lihue) at 2:28 p.m. Return flights from Kauai operate Thursday through Sunday, departing Kauai at 3:35 p.m. and arriving in Oakland at 11:42 p.m. All times are given in local arrival or departure city times.

Officials of the Port of Oakland/Oakland International Airport and Aloha Airlines led today's inaugural ceremony for departing Aloha Flight 445. A traditional Hawaiian blessing of the aircraft by a Hawaiian priest, the untying of a maile lei and a water arch courtesy of the airport firefighters of the Oakland Fire Department added to the inaugural festivities.

"Oakland International is Aloha Airlines' gateway in the San Francisco Bay Area,” said George Turner, manager of aviation marketing and communications for Oakland International Airport. "Travelers have enjoyed the "Aloha" spirit so much that Aloha now serves five nonstop destinations from Oakland, including today's launch of service to Kauai."

In addition to the new Kauai service, Aloha has expanded its nonstop service to Kona, on the Big Island of Hawaii, from four flights a week to a daily flight. Aloha also operates daily nonstop flights from Oakland to Honolulu, Maui (Kahului) and Las Vegas.

Oakland International Airport has served the San Francisco Bay Area for more than 75 years. The airport, a revenue division of the Port of Oakland and an independent department of the City of Oakland, served 12.7 million passengers and handled more than 600,000 metric tons of air cargo in 2002. Oakland International has 200 flights a day on 12 domestic and international carriers to 40 nonstop destinations, including Atlanta, the Hawaiian Islands, New York, Washington, D.C., and Mexico and seasonal service to The Azores (Portugal) and Costa Rica.

Oakland International consistently has the fewest weather-related flight delays in the Bay Area. A dedicated shuttle bus jointly operated by the airport and the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) meets every BART system train at the nearby Coliseum station. Those who choose to drive to the airport are reminded that the 98th Avenue corridor is open to both inbound and outbound traffic creating a fast, direct route to and from Interstate 880. Once at the airport, travelers can tune to 1700AM for current airport traffic, parking and security information and watch for roadway signage at the entrance to the airport that will indicate which parking lots still have available space. Visit the airport’s web site at www.oaklandairport.com for more information.