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Alaska Airlines Is Boosting Its Network With These New Exciting Routes

New nonstop routes connect Anchorage, Portland, and Sacramento with key destinations, enhancing West Coast and Alaska travel options

by George Gomez

January 15, 2025

Photo: Courtesy of Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines is starting the year with an ambitious expansion of its network, offering travelers more nonstop connections to top destinations in Alaska and Oregon.

Following its merger with Hawaiian Airlines and the launch of the winter season offering free lift tickets at local ski resorts for Mileage Plan members, the airline has announced several new seasonal and year-round routes that improve access to the Pacific Northwest and establish year-round service between Oregon and major markets in Texas and California.

Connecting Alaska

For the first time, the Seattle-based carrier will offer nonstop seasonal service connecting its northernmost hub in Anchorage (ANC) with Detroit (DTW) and Sacramento (SMF), starting June 14.

According to the airline, these new routes will operate weekly, bringing the total number of nonstop destinations served from Anchorage to an impressive 15—marking a record for the airline’s summer schedule.

Photo: Detroit’s skyline. Courtesy of William Duggan / Unsplash

Additionally, the airline will resume daily nonstop service between the Alaskan city of Fairbanks (FAI) and its hub in Portland (PDX) on May 15.

“These new routes provide guests with more options than ever to vacation this summer in the great state of Alaska,” said Kirsten Amrine, Vice President of Network Planning and Revenue Management at Alaska Airlines.

“The nonstop flights from Detroit and Sacramento will put travelers right in the heart of Alaska by skipping a layover, and Portlanders can enjoy nonstop service to Fairbanks,” she said.

Photo: Fairbanks, Alaska. Courtesy of Yuhan Du / Unsplash

Marilyn Romano, Regional Vice President of Alaska, enthusiastically spoke about the allure of visiting during the summer months: “Summer is a tremendous time to visit The Great Land of Alaska with our long, warm days, tremendous culture and adventure, and amazing wild Alaska seafood. Anchorage serves as a perfect jumping-off point for exploring the state and even hopping on a cruise.”

The expanded network will offer Anchorage residents and visitors direct access to major U.S. cities, including Chicago, Denver, Honolulu, Los Angeles, and New York (JFK).

Oregon Boost

In a further boost to its West Coast network, Alaska is adding three new year-round routes from and within Oregon.

Starting May 15, the airline will launch daily flights between Portland and Houston (IAH), linking two active cities with significant business and leisure travel demand.

Photo: Courtesy of Alaska Airlines

This new route fills a key gap in the airline’s network, as Houston was previously Portland’s largest unserved city.

“As passenger traffic at PDX continues to grow, so does the opportunity for airlines,” said Dan Pippenger, Chief Aviation Officer at the Port of Portland. “We appreciate the continued partnership with Alaska that gives travelers more options to connect to major markets and more flights within our state.”

Alongside the Portland-Houston route, Alaska will offer twice-daily service between Portland and Eugene, facilitating smooth connections for local travelers.

Photo: Courtesy of Alaska Airlines

And for those flying between Southern Oregon and California, a new daily route between San Diego and Medford will also commence in mid-May.

Lastly, Alaska will increase service within Oregon by quadrupling the frequency of its Portland-Medford route, offering four daily departures, and launching year-round service on its Portland-Redmond route with three daily flights.

Here’s a breakdown of the newly announced routes:

City PairStart DateEnd DateFrequencyAircraft
Anchorage – DetroitJune 14Aug. 16Weekly (Saturday)Boeing 737
Anchorage – SacramentoJune 14Aug. 16Weekly (Saturday)Boeing 737
Fairbanks – PortlandMay 15Aug. 19DailyE175
Portland – Houston BushMay 15Year-roundDailyBoeing 737
Portland – EugeneMay 15Year-roundTwice DailyE175
San Diego – MedfordMay 15Year-roundDailyE175

Starting the year strong

In addition to its upcoming summer schedule, Alaska is kicking off 2025 with a slate of exciting new routes launching in January.

Among the highlights are multiple sun-seeking getaways, including Sacramento to Los Cabos (five times weekly) and Sacramento to Puerto Vallarta (weekly), alongside the new Sacramento to Orlando (four times weekly) and Sacramento to Tucson (daily) routes.

Photo: Courtesy of Alaska Airlines

Travelers in Portland can also enjoy a new daily nonstop service to New Orleans, while those in Boise gain a connection to Orlando three times a week.

Notably, Alaska is also offering flights from New York (JFK) to Puerto Vallarta four times a week, expanding its transcontinental leisure offerings. Additionally, Kansas City sees new weekly service to both Cancun and Puerto Vallarta, with St. Louis also launching a weekly flight to Puerto Vallarta later this month.

City PairStart DateEnd DateFrequencyAircraft
Sacramento – Los CabosJan. 6April 215x/week737
Sacramento – TucsonJan. 6April 21DailyE175
Sacramento – OrlandoJan. 6April 214x/week737
Portland – New OrleansJan. 6May 14Daily737
Boise – OrlandoJan. 7March 233x/week737
New York JFK – Puerto VallartaJan. 8April 204x/week737
Sacramento – Puerto VallartaJan. 11April 19Weekly737
Kansas City – CancunJan. 18Aug. 9Weekly737
Kansas City – Puerto VallartaJan. 25April 5Weekly737
St. Louis – Puerto VallartaJan. 25April 5Weekly737

As some of the newly announced flights will be operated with the airline’s smallest plane, the Embraer E175, the airline reminds us that these planes have undergone a retrofit across the airline’s entire fleet, adding 400,000 Premium Class seats to the regional jet market.

Photo: Courtesy of Alaska Airlines

Alaska’s network expansion marks a significant milestone in its quest to enhance connectivity across its hubs in Washington, Oregon and Alaska. With the completion of its merger with Hawaiian Airlines, the airline is set to unlock a new era of travel by launching direct long-haul flights to Asia from its hub in Seattle.

This strategic move not only increases travel options for passengers but also positions Alaska Airlines as a key player in the competitive landscape of international air travel. As the airline embarks on this ambitious journey, it is sure to redefine its operations, promising an unprecedented and transformative year ahead in its storied history.