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HomeTravelAlaska Airlines announces 7-route West Coast expansion

Alaska Airlines announces 7-route West Coast expansion

Alaska Airlines is doubling down on its West Coast roots with more than a half-dozen new flights connecting a slew of cities in California, Oregon and Washington.

The Seattle-based carrier on Thursday announced an expansion that will bolster its footprint in Burbank and California Wine Country — and add a new link between Southern California and Idaho ski country.

In all, it’s seven new routes for Alaska, with all of the new service launching between late October and early January.

Filling a void in Burbank

Part of Alaska’s growth will see the airline fill a void left by Avelo Airlines at Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR), after the budget carrier, earlier this month, announced it would abandon its West Coast network.

burbank airport
Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) in California.

That said, Alaska also sees this expansion as an extension of its tried-and-true strategy of linking West Coast cities, including in the nation’s most populous state, California.

“We’re willing to fly these point-to-point routes, and believe it helps us gain loyalty with our guests,” Kirsten Amrine, Alaska vice president of revenue management and network planning, told TPG in an interview.

Among Alaska’s routes unveiled Thursday: new nonstop service between San Diego and Sun Valley, Idaho, that, Amrine noted, follows a successful “ski strategy” playbook that worked well last year on flights between the Southern California city and Vail, Colorado.

sun valley idaho
Sun Valley, Idaho.

“I think it also gives us more of a premium edge in San Diego as we think about our brand versus others,” she said.

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Alaska Airlines’ 7 new routes

Here’s the full rundown of Alaska’s new routes announced Thursday.

Route Launch date Frequency
BUR to Eugene Airport (EUG) in Oregon Oct. 26 Daily
BUR to Tri Cities Airport (PSC) in Pasco, Washington Oct. 26 Daily
BUR to Redmond Municipal Airport (RDM) in Oregon Oct. 26 Daily
Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) to Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport (STS) Oct. 26 Five weekly round trips during the winter season
San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Friedman Memorial Airport (SUN) in Sun Valley, Idaho Dec. 18 Three weekly round trips during the winter season
Boise Airport (BOI) to Ontario International Airport (ONT) in California Jan. 7, 2026 Daily
Spokane International Airport (GEG) in Washington to John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Orange County, California Jan. 7, 2026 Daily

Alaska’s regional subsidiary Horizon Air will operate each of the seven routes with its fleet of Embraer 175 regional jets, which offer a dozen first-class recliners at the front of the plane, with 16 of its Premium (extra-legroom) seats and 48 seats in the main cabin.

Alaska will have at least some competition on its three new Burbank routes. Low-cost carrier Breeze Airways launched that same trio of flights out of the suburban Los Angeles airport following Avelo’s departure.

Even prior to Thursday’s announcement, Alaska’s total number of departures between California, Oregon, Idaho and Washington was scheduled to rise 9% this coming winter versus last winter — according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium.

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How to book these flights with Alaska miles

Speaking of loyalty: For customers hoping to book these flights through Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, most of the flights in Thursday’s announcement start at 7,500 miles one-way for economy redemptions.

Travelers with a stash of miles with Hawaiian Airlines can still transfer those miles seamlessly to Alaska’s Mileage Plan, following the two airlines’ merger next year.

Alaska Air Group, parent company of the Alaska and Hawaiian brands, plans to announce a brand-new, combined loyalty program by mid-August, executives said last week on the company’s second-quarter earnings call.

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