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Earlier today, I wrote about nine routes that Alaska Airlines is cutting. While those are falling off the map, Alaska is also kicking off 2026 with its largest route expansion in years with 13 new nonstop routes and two brand-new destinations beginning next spring. The carrier is also reinforcing its leadership positions at Portland International Airport (PDX), San Diego International Airport (SAN), and several other key cities with a mix of new routes, added frequencies, and expanded year-round service.
With the additions, Alaska Air Group will serve 142 destinations in 2026 (the most in its history). The airline is also introducing flights to/from Tulsa International Airport (TUL) and Arcata-Eureka’s California Redwood Coast-Humboldt County Airport (ACV) to its network. New routes include:
- Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) to/from Hollywood Burbank Airport (1x daily this summer; starts on May 13th)
- Ontario International Airport (ONT) to/from Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport (STS) (1x daily; starts on March 18th)
- Portland International Airport (PDX) to/from Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) (1x daily this summer; starts on May 13th)
- Portland International Airport (PDX) to/from Idaho Falls Regional Airport (IDA) (1x daily; starts on May 13th)
- Portland International Airport (PDX) to/from Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) (1x daily this summer; starts on May 13th)
- Portland International Airport (PDX) to/from St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) (1x daily; starts on May 13th)
- San Diego International Airport (SAN) to/from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) (2x daily; starts on April 22nd)
- San Diego International Airport (SAN) to/from Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport (OAK) (4x daily; starts on April 22nd)
- San Diego International Airport (SAN) to/from Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) (1x daily; starts on April 22nd)
- San Diego International Airport (SAN) to/from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) (2x daily; starts on April 22nd)
- San Diego International Airport (SAN) to/from Tulsa International Airport (TUL) (1x daily; starts on May 18th)
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to/from Arcata-Eureka’s California Redwood Coast-Humboldt County Airport (ACV) (1x daily; starts on April 8th)
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to/from Tulsa International Airport (TUL) (1x daily; starts on May 18th)
Portland International Airport (PDX) remains one of Alaska’s strongest hubs and next spring the airline will add four new nonstop routes. With these additions, Alaska will serve 62 nonstop destinations from the airport. Alaska will also:
- Add a second daily flight to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
- Increase service to Lihue Airport (LIH) yo year-round
- Boost flights to/from Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport (SRS) to 3x daily
San Diego International Airport (SAN) continues to be Alaska’s fastest-growing hub, with the airline planning a 35% increase in capacity in spring 2026 compared to the previous year. The latest additions make Alaska the largest carrier by nonstop destinations from the airport. Together with Hawaiian Airlines, the two will serve the top 15 most popular markets nonstop from the city (reaching 49 nonstop destinations in total). Alaska is also increasing frequencies between San Diego and Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport (SRS) to 3x daily flights.
Alaska Airlines continues to lead all US carriers in service between California and Hawaii. The airline is introducing a new summer seasonal route between Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) and Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR), which marks the first nonstop connection between the two airports in more than 20 years.
Additional increases across the islands include:
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to/from Kahului Airport (OGG) to 2x daily (plus 1x additional seasonal frequency)
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to both Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport (KOA) and Lihue Airport (LIH) increase to 1x daily flights in June
By early summer 2026, Alaska will operate daily flights to all four major Hawaiian Islands from San Francisco International Airport (SFO), mirroring its robust service from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Portland International Airport (PDX), San Diego International Airport (SAN), and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).
Kirsten Amrine, Vice President of Revenue Management and Network Planning at Alaska Airlines, said:
With bold expansion in San Diego and Portland, plus more flights to Hawaii and new destinations like Tulsa and Arcata-Eureka, Alaska is redefining what it means to connect gueststo a remarkable travel experience rooted in safety, care and performance. San Diego continues to be one of our fastest-growing hubs while Portland and Hawaii are essential parts of our global network. Our investment in these markets is designed to meet the strong demand we’re seeing from the recent launch of Atmos Rewards, the #1 airline loyalty program in the country. We’re thrilled to offer our guests more choice, more rewards and more global access than ever before.”
Anthony’s Take: Alaska is building out an even more impressive West Coast network. It’s good to see it coming in hot on so many routes.
(Image Credits: Alaska Airlines.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
