Alaska Airlines is enhancing its West Coast presence with the launch of over six new flights connecting various cities in California, Oregon, and Washington.
The Seattle-based airline announced on Thursday an expansion that will strengthen its operations in Burbank and California’s Wine Country, as well as introduce a new route linking Southern California to Idaho’s ski destinations.
In total, Alaska plans to introduce seven new routes, with services commencing between late October and early January.
Serving Burbank’s Needs
This expansion will help Alaska Airlines fill the gap created by Avelo Airlines, which recently announced its exit from the West Coast market at Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR).
Alaska views this expansion as part of its strategy to connect West Coast cities, particularly in California, which has the nation’s largest population.
“We are committed to operating these point-to-point routes, which helps foster loyalty among our customers,” said Kirsten Amrine, Alaska’s Vice President of Revenue Management and Network Planning, in an interview with Flying Frugal.
Among the newly announced routes is direct service from San Diego to Sun Valley, Idaho, which follows a successful ski travel strategy implemented between Southern California and Vail, Colorado, last year.
“This enhances our premium presence in San Diego compared to our competitors,” she added.
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New Routes from Alaska Airlines
Here’s the complete list of the new routes announced by Alaska on Thursday.
| Route | Launch Date | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| BUR to Eugene Airport (EUG), Oregon | Oct. 26 | Daily |
| BUR to Tri Cities Airport (PSC), Pasco, Washington | Oct. 26 | Daily |
| BUR to Redmond Municipal Airport (RDM), Oregon | Oct. 26 | Daily |
| PSP to Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport (STS) | Oct. 26 | Five weekly round trips during winter |
| SAN to Friedman Memorial Airport (SUN) in Sun Valley, Idaho | Dec. 18 | Three weekly round trips during winter |
| BOI to Ontario International Airport (ONT), California | Jan. 7, 2026 | Daily |
| GEG to John Wayne Airport (SNA), Orange County, California | Jan. 7, 2026 | Daily |
Alaska’s regional carrier, Horizon Air, will operate all seven routes using its fleet of Embraer 175 regional jets, which include a dozen first-class recliners, 16 Premium extra-legroom seats, and 48 standard cabin seats.
There will be some competition on Alaska’s three new Burbank routes, as Breeze Airways recently launched similar flights from the Los Angeles-area airport after Avelo’s exit.
Even before this announcement, departures among California, Oregon, Idaho, and Washington were set to increase by 9% this winter compared to the previous year, according to aviation data firm Cirium.
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Booking Flights with Alaska Miles
For those looking to use Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan for these new routes, flights can start at just 7,500 miles one-way for economy redemptions.
Additionally, travelers with Hawaiian Airlines miles can easily transfer them to Alaska’s Mileage Plan following their merger next year.
The Alaska Air Group, which includes both Alaska and Hawaiian brands, plans to unveil a new combined loyalty program by mid-August, as executives disclosed during the recent second-quarter earnings call.
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