Alaska Airlines hasn't started service to Hawai'i but already is adding more flights here.

The company yesterday announced it will operate Anchorage-Honolulu flights year-round instead of the seasonal service it had planned.

Alaska earlier this year said it would begin service to Hawai'i starting with a daily Seattle-Honolulu flight on Oct. 12. It will follow that up with daily Seattle-Lihu'e service on Oct. 28 and the start of daily flights from Anchorage on Dec. 9.

The latter flight was to be operated through April 26. Alaska Airlines yesterday said it will operate the service year-round, with twice-weekly service between April 27 and Oct. 25. After that the service will operate on a daily basis through the spring.

Spokeswoman Caroline Boren said the carrier decided to expand the flights after Northwest Airlines announced it was pulling out of seasonal service between Anchorage and Honolulu.

"We thought there might be some demand there where we could pick up the slack," Boren said, noting the airline expects to attract Alaskans who want to vacation here and Hawai'i residents who want to fish or go sightseeing in the 49th state.

Alaska also purchased certain assets of Anchorage-based tour operator Hawaiian Vacations last month, gaining the company's bookings, brand and Web site.

People who had booked with Hawaiian Vacations and flown on charter flights are now being switched over to Alaska Airlines' flights. The service will be aboard Boeing 737-800s with 16 first-class and 141 coach-class seats.