Alaska Airlines has concentrated much of its route network in the lower 48 contiguous US states. This includes its largest hub in Seattle. However, now, the airline is adding new flights out of the largest city of its namesake state to new “sun and fun” destinations.
The new Anchorage routes
Alaska Airlines is adding three “sun and fun” destinations out of Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC). The services are as follows:
- Anchorage to Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS): year-round service commences from May 20th; served four times per week
- Anchorage to Denver International Airport (DEN): seasonal service starts on June 17th and concludes on August 16th; daily service
- Anchorage to San Francisco International Airport (SFO): seasonal service starts on June 17th and concludes on August 16th; daily service
- Anchorage to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) turns from seasonal to daily year-round service
This will take Alaska Airlines to overall eight nonstops from Anchorage to the lower 48 US states:
- Chicago O’Hare (ORD)
- Denver (DEN)
- Las Vegas (LAS)
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- San Francisco (SFO)
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
- Phoenix (PHX)
- Portland International Airport (PDX)
Four cities (Los Angeles, Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco) are hubs for the carrier. This means more connecting opportunities on Alaska onwards to other destinations.
Alaska Airlines had previously announced flights from Anchorage to San Francisco in August of 2019, with the inaugural scheduled for April of this year. However, the crisis has delayed the route by over a year.
Marilyn Romano, Alaska Airlines’ regional vice president, stated the following in a press release viewed by Simple Flying:
“The demand for leisure travel in 2021 is beginning to return as our guests look ahead, and we’re offering even more nonstops to take Alaskans to the places they want to go. We believe our guests will love the convenient nonstops to Vegas, Denver and San Francisco, in addition to our daily nonstop flight to Phoenix that’s now set to fly year-round.”
Serving the state
Despite being based in Seattle, Alaska Airlines continues to serve its namesake state. The airline has flown some important missions, including cargo-only flights and important fish transport flights to keep the local economy moving and the state connected with the outside world.
In October, the airline began flying Embraer E175 aircraft in the state, which allowed it to expand more services from Anchorage. The airline is the largest carrier in the state and serves more destinations nonstop from Anchorage than any other airline.
Anchorage has been wanting to get more passengers flying through the airport. These new flights will help increase the number of passengers flying to and from the airport, but the airport will not quite be a transfer hub like it was in the past. The only real connections the carrier can offer out of Anchorage would be on flights within Alaska.
The aircraft
Alaska Airlines is flying Boeing 737 aircraft on all of these routes. On most of these routes, Alaska Airlines is flying Boeing 737-900 aircraft. These planes feature 178 seats. This includes 16 in recliner-style first class, 24 in extra-legroom economy, and 138 in economy.
On some flights, Alaska Airlines is using a Boeing 737-800. These have 147 seats onboard, with 12 in recliner-style first class, 30 in extra-legroom economy, and 117 in economy.
It does not appear that Alaska has scheduled Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to operate any of these flights, though that could change in the future.
Are you going to take any of these newly announced Alaska Airlines routes? Let us know in the comments!