Alaska Airlines today began daily direct service between Seattle and Kahului, Maui, the airline said.

The flights are scheduled to depart at 8:20 a.m. Seattle time and arrive on Maui at 11:35 a.m. each day. The flights are operated with Boeing 737-800 aircraft that seats 157 passengers.

In addition to the Maui flight, Alaska Airlines announced it will start three weekly flights between Anchorage and Maui from Oct. 31 through April 25, 2009. Also, year-round service between Seattle and Kona will begin Nov. 17.

"Our customers have welcomed our new Hawai'i service with open arms," said Gregg Saretsky, executive vice president of flight and marketing for the airlines.

The Seattle-based airline began direct flights to Hawai'i last October.