Beginning Wednesday, September 23, 2009, George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) will welcome its newest airline.

Alaska Airlines (AS) will inaugurate nonstop daily service between Houston IAH and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), making Alaska Airline’s debut in the city of Houston.

“We’re very pleased to welcome Alaska Airlines as Bush Intercontinental’s 19th passenger airline,” says Rob Wigington, Houston Airport System (HAS) deputy director. “This new service will provide additional options for Houston customers traveling to the Western United States.”

Once Houston customers arrive in Seattle, they have an option of taking more than 3,200 flights a day from SEA, which allows access to nearly 20 cities via Seattle including Anchorage, Alaska and Missoula, Montana.

SEA will also give passengers on these incoming flights access to Houston from nearly 15 cities including Canada’s Victoria and Kelowna in British Columbia.

"We are shifting capacity into markets where we are seeing higher demand," says Andrew Harrison, Alaska's vice president of planning and revenue management. "Houston and Atlanta are two of the largest markets that we don't currently serve nonstop from Seattle. With their strong business ties to the state of Alaska and Pacific Northwest, these cities will be great additions to our core route network."

Although the service does not begin until September, the new flights are available today at alaskaair.com or by calling (800) ALASKAAIR.

Daily flights will depart Seattle at 7:45 a.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST), arriving in Houston at 2:05 p.m. Central Standard Time (CST) and departing Houston at 4:30 p.m. CST, arriving in Seattle at 7:05 p.m. PST.

Travelers that fly the new Houston-Seattle route will earn double miles, but customers must register at alaskaair.com before they travel. Registration for this special will be available beginning May 27.