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PHL Welcomes Alaska Airlines To The Airport

By Kim Glovas

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Philadelphia International Airport celebrated the inaugural flight of Alaska Airlines today.

"Can we give a big, big round of applause and a cheer, 'Welcome Alaska! Welcome! Welcome!'"

And with that, Mayor Michael Nutter welcome the new airline to Philadelphia International. Alaska Airlines will fly non-stop from Philadelphia to Seattle, adding a new flying dimension to the airport.

"Let me add my welcome to all of you who are here for our first flight between the City of Brotherly Love and Jet City. Our new service is very special. It links the birth place of our nation to an airline that was born on America's last frontier," said Jeff Butler, the vice-president of customer service for Alaska Airlines.

Alaska may be a new airline on the East Coast, but on the West Coast, it provides dozens of flights daily to cities west of the Rockies, as well as 25 flights a day to mainland Hawaii.

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