Alaska Airlines Opens First-Ever Flights Between San Diego and Washington DCA

Alaska Airlines is set to make history as the first carrier to offer nonstop service between San Diego International Airport (SAN) and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).

Approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) under the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, the new transcontinental route addresses a long-standing gap in air travel, providing San Diego’s bustling defense, biotech, and communications sectors with direct access to the heart of the nation’s capital.

Photo: Courtesy of Washington-Reagan National Airport.

“For nearly 40 years, we’ve proudly served San Diego with the exceptional and caring service we’re known for,” said Ben Minicucci, CEO of Alaska Airlines. “This new route reflects our commitment to San Diego, home of the nation’s largest military community, and offers our guests a seamless travel option to our nation’s capital.”

In this landmark decision by the DOT, Alaska Airlines will join four other carriers in operating long-distance routes from the nation’s capital airport.

Photo: Courtesy of Alaska Airlines

The airlines and their respective destinations are as follows: American Airlines will provide service to San Antonio (SAT), Delta Air Lines will fly to Seattle (SEA), Southwest Airlines will offer routes to Las Vegas (LAS), United Airlines will service San Francisco (SFO), and Alaska Airlines will operate flights to San Diego (SAN).

Strategic Importance

San Diego has been the largest origin-destination market in the United States without nonstop service to DCA. This route is a game-changer for the region, enhancing connectivity for government-related travel and facilitating business and leisure opportunities.

The city’s proximity to key federal institutions like the Pentagon and the Department of Homeland Security makes it one of the top government travel markets in the country.

Photo: Courtesy of Wei Feng / Unsplash

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria celebrated the announcement, emphasizing its economic and strategic impact: “This flight will further connect our growing defense, research, and innovation economies to our leaders in the Capitol. Securing this flight was a team effort by our partners from Alaska Airlines, the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, and our congressional delegation.”

Kimberly J. Becker, President and CEO of the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, added, “This route will provide significant convenience for our defense, biotech, and communications sectors. We appreciate the DOT’s thoughtful analysis and the support from elected officials and community leaders.”

As the airline with the most nonstop destinations from San Diego, Alaska Airlines continues solidifying its regional leadership. With the launch of the DCA route, the carrier will offer 40 nonstop destinations and more than 70 peak-day departures from SAN.

Seattle as a Global Hub

Alaska Airlines is not only launching flights between the nation’s capital and San Diego, but it is also expanding its global presence. The airline has announced plans to use its newly acquired fleet of Hawaiian Airlines’ widebody jets along with their extensive transpacific routes to transform Seattle-Tacoma (SEA) into an international hub.

Photo: Sea-Tac Airport. Courtesy of The Port of Seattle.

As part of this expansion, two international routes are set to begin in 2025: the first will be a daily flight to Tokyo-Narita (NRT), starting in May, followed by a direct connection to Seoul Incheon (ICN), which is expected to launch as early as October 2025.

This expansion represents a significant milestone for Alaska Airlines and is poised to enhance travel options for passengers in the Pacific Northwest.

Alaska Airlines will operate these routes to Asia using its newly acquired Airbus A330-200 widebody jets. The airline aims to establish a network of 12 transcontinental routes departing from Seattle by 2030, positioning the airport as a bustling “global gateway” for travelers.

New Lounges

In an exciting development following its announcement of inaugural flights to Asia, Alaska Airlines also unveiled plans for a significant expansion of its airport lounge offerings. The airline intends to establish three new Alaska Lounges in key locations along the West Coast and Hawaii, enhancing its passengers’ travel experience.

Alaska Airlines B and C lounges at Portland International Airport on Thursday, November 3, 2022.

While specific details regarding the lounges’ features and amenities remain, Alaska Airlines has confirmed opening a new Alaska Lounge in Honolulu (HNL) and San Diego (SAN). Furthermore, the airline is set to launch its first-ever flagship international lounge in Seattle.

With its nonstop service between San Diego and Washington, D.C., Alaska Airlines bridges a critical gap for San Diego’s defense, biotech, and innovation sectors and strengthens the airline’s reputation as a leader in West Coast travel.