Alaska Airlines starts Oakland-Hawaii flights; San Jose-Hawaii, Sacramento-Hawaii services from March 2010

Alaska Airlines, based in SeaTac, near Seattle, Washington in the United States, has announced new flights to Hawaii.

The airline has launched service between Oakland, in California, and Kahului, on the island of Maui in Hawaii, with 4 flights a week, as well as between Oakland and the Hawaiian island of Kona, with 3 flights a week.

Flights from Oakland to Maui take off at 7.45 a.m., and flights from Maui to Oakland leave at 12.05 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

Flights from Oakland to Kona depart at 7.45 a.m., and flights from Kona to Oakland take off at 12.15 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. (All times are local).

Flights can be bought at Alaska Airlines’ website alaskaair.com

On both Oakland-Kahului and Oakland-Kona routes, Alaska Airlines said it will use Boeing 737-800 plane, with 16 seats in the first-class and 141 seats in the in the coach.

The airline offers Hawaiian-themed beverages as well as meals on board.

In a statement, Alaska Airlines, a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group Incorporated, said that it will launch flights to Hawaii from the cities of San Jose and Sacramento, in California, starting from March 2010.

Alaska Airlines will fly 3 times a week between San Jose and Maui from March 11, 2010; 4 times a week between San Jose and Kona from March 12, 2010; and will fly daily between Sacramento and Maui from March 26, 2010.

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

In addition, the airline’s Vacation Packages start at $599 to Maui, and at $523 to Kona.

(Vacation prices – which are per person and based on adult double-occupancy – include roundtrip airfare as well as hotel accommodations for 3 nights.)

With the launching of the new routes, 11% of the total capacity of Alaska Airlines will be dedicated to Hawaii-bound flights.

According to aviation analysts, Alaska Airlines, by adding flights from California, seems to taking advantage of the closure of ATA Airlines and Aloha Airlines.

Steve Jarvis, vice-president (marketing, sales and customer experience) of Alaska Airlines, said in the statement that Hawaii has, in just 2 years, become a major part of the carrier’s route network.

The low fares offered by and Alaska Airlines as well as its vacations packages make air travel to Hawaii travel even more affordable, according to Steve Jarvis.

And, with the new services, Alaska Airlines will be operating 73 roundtrip flights a week to the Hawaiian Islands, including 21 roundtrip services from Sacramento and Bay Area.