Domestic air travel in the U.S. is concentrated on a handful of airline companies. One is Alaska Airlines, the fifth-largest carrier in North America by scheduled passengers carried. Alaska Airlines is a leading American carrier offering scheduled commuter, domestic, and international services from 4 hubs in the U.S. Headquartered in SeaTac, Washington; the carrier operates its largest hub at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). It boasts an extensive route system spanning 115 +cities in the contiguous U.S., Alaska, Hawaii, and four foreign countries. In this guide, we’ll map out Alaska Airlines’ route network.
To navigate Alaska Airlines routes, it’s important to shed some light on the carrier’s operational bases.
As a primary hub, Seattle-Tacoma Airport is crucial in Alaska’s ever-broadening destination network. Seattle’s hometown airline provides oodles of connections from SEA and accounts for nearly 50% of annual passenger traffic at SEA. Apart from Seattle, Alaska also concentrates its traffic flow from Anchorage (TED), Los Angeles (LAX), Portland (PDX), and San Francisco (SFO).
All five hubs of Alaska Airlines are located in the West Coast region of the U.S. AS operates the most profitable and efficient network of flights from its well-established core market on the West Coast. It boasts a robust flight schedule with plenty of nonstop destinations from the Pacific Coast.
Around 1200 Alaska-operated flights take to the skies daily, serving more than 115 destinations nationwide and beyond. While Alaska is a big player in the domestic market, it also enjoys a certain degree of international presence. The airline challenges U.S. rivals globally with international flights to Mexico, Canada, Costa Rica, and Belize.
Now let’s have a detailed look at Alaska Airlines routes within the U.S. and to Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, and Mexico.
1. Alaska Airlines routes: Domestic
- Alaska Airlines routes in Alaska State
Seattle-headquartered Alaska Airlines is the largest provider of air services in the largest U.S. state of Alaska. It is the sole mainline carrier offering in-state jet travel to serve Alaskan communities. The primary gateway to Alaska is Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC), a hub for Alaska Airlines.
The carrier uses its Anchorage hub to serve regional cities like Bethel, Nome, Kotzebue, Kodiak, Dillingham, Petersburg, Nome, etc.
It also operates scheduled services between Anchorage and Fairbanks, the smallest U.S. city. Alaska Airlines alone ferries around 190 thousand annual passengers on the Anchorage-Fairbanks route.
Beyond regional hubs, the carrier also links Anchorage to key Southeast and Alaska Peninsula communities.
Altogether, Alaska Airlines serves 19 destinations in Alaska State. It is the lifeline of Alaskan communities who depend on it for intra-state travel and connectivity with the rest of the U.S. mainland.
- Alaska Airlines routes along the West Coast
With the most West Coast hub of any carrier, Alaska Airlines is a go-to airline for anyone flying to West Coast. The premium carrier offers one of the most prolific ranges of West Coast destinations across the U.S. from its five hubs.
Alaska Airlines routes along the West Coast include principal cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, San Diego, etc. Other key Pacific Coast destinations encompass San Jose, Sacramento, Anchorage, Oakland, Stockton, Ontario, Orange County, Redding Vancouver, Santa Rosa, Roseville, Everett, Burbank, Renton, Fresno, Spokane, etc.
The West Coast-based carrier serves 16 cities in California, 4 in Oregon, and 9 in Washington State. The purchase of low-cost Virgin America enlarged Alaska’s presence in California. When Alaska acquired Virgin America in 2016, it exploited the unique opportunity to extend its network into California. The discount airline used to operate low-fare services from SFO and LAX hubs before it merged with Alaska Airlines.
- Alaska Airlines routes along the East Coast
Along with a strong foundation on the West Coast, Alaska seeks to expand its footprint in the East Coast market. The carrier’s route network is focused on connecting the West Coast market to thriving cities on the Atlantic Coast. Alaska Airlines passengers have flight options for nonstop travel to the following East Coast destinations:
- New York (New York John F. Kennedy Airport)
- New Jersey (Newark Liberty International Airport)
- Florida (Fort Lauderdale Airport, Fort Myers Airport, Miami Airport, Orlando Airport, Tampa Airport)
- Maryland (Baltimore/Washington International Airport)
- Massachusetts (Boston Logan Airport)
- North Carolina (Raleigh-Durham Airport)
- South Carolina (Charleston International Airport)
- Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh, Philadelphia International Airport
- Georgia (Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Atlanta)
- Washington D.C. (Washington Dulles International Airport)
- Alaska Airlines routes to Hawaii
As passengers can easily make plans to enjoy a tropical getaway in Hawaii. West Coast leader Alaska Airlines operates nonstop flights to this preeminent island destination well-known for its immaculate beaches and jagged coastlines. What airports does Alaska Airlines fly to in Hawaii? Where does Alaska Airlines fly to Hawaii from?
Alaska Airlines route map includes four airports in Hawaii serving the cities of Lihue, Kona, Maui, and Honolulu. The carrier flies to Lihue Airport, Hawaii, from San Diego, San Jose, Seattle Tacoma. Similarly, it operates flights to Kona International Airport (KOA) from Portland, San Diego, San Jose, and Seattle.
Likewise, Alaska Airlines operates Maui flights from Los Angeles, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, and Seattle.
Furthermore, Honolulu International Airport (HNL) receives Alaska flights from AS’ five hubs as well as San Diego and San Jose.
- Other Alaska Airlines routes within the U.S.
One of the largest U.S. carriers, Alaska Airlines, also flies to the following destinations across the country:
- Texas (Austin, Dallas DFW & Love Field, El Paso, Houston, San Antonio)
- Montana (Billings, Bozeman, Great Falls, Helena, Kalispell, Missoula)
- Idaho (Boise, Idaho Falls, and Sun Valley)
- Arizona (Phoenix and Tucson )
- Colorado (Denver and Steamboat Springs)
- Ohio (Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Columbus)
- Nevada (Las Vegas and Reno)
- Missouri (Kansas City and St. Louis)
- Nebraska (Omaka), Wisconsin (Milwaukee), Wyoming (Jackson Hole), Utah (Salt Lake City), New Mexico (Albuquerque), Michigan (Detroit), Minnesota (Minneapolis), Oklahoma, etc.
2. Alaska Airlines routes: International
The U.S. domestic air market leader Alaska Airlines also has a certain level of depth and breadth in international space. The Seattle-based carrier flies internationally to key cities in Canada, Costa Rica, Belize, and Mexico. Here’s a brief outlook on Alaska Airlines’ international route map.
- To Canada
Alaska’s Canadian footprint includes Calgary, Edmonton, Kelowna, Vancouver, and Victoria services.
Seattle’s hometown airline Alaska provides nonstop services between Seattle Tacoma Airport and Calgary International Airport (YYC). The nonstop flights from Calgary mean easy passenger connections through Seattle to cities throughout the U.S.
Edmonton International Airport (YEG) also welcomes Alaska’s direct flights from Seattle. Kelowna Airport (YLW) is a seasonal destination for Alaska Airlines. The carrier operates the YLW-SEA route on a seasonal basis.
Another key destination in Alaska’s Canadian route map is Victoria. The carrier uses the Seattle hub to connect nonstop to Vitoria International Airport (YYJ).
- To Belize
Alaska Airlines North American network stretches to Belize City, the largest city in Belize. The first Alaska flight to Belize took place in 2021.
Travelers can find Alaska’s year-round service from Los Angeles to Philip S. W Goldson International Airport (BZE) in Belize City. Moreover, the carrier also directly connects SEA Airport to BZE during a peak travel period.
- To Costa Rica
The premium network carrier Alaska serves two cities in Costa Rica: Liberia and San Jose. It has been offering flights to these two key markets since 2015.
Guanacaste Airport, aka Liberia International Airport, accommodates Alaska’s flights from Los Angeles Airport. The same goes for Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), the primary Costa Rican gateway. Alaska Airlines operates out of the Los Angeles hub to offer direct connections to both airports in Costa Rica.
- To Mexico
Alaska Airlines serves the largest number of international destinations in Mexico. Passengers can book direct flights to 8 Mexican cities, namely Cabo San Lucas, Cancun, Guadalajara, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Loreto, Manzanillo, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta.
Alaska Airlines is committed to Mexico, having served the country since 1988. The carrier began its Mexico journey with flights to Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta in 1988. Los Cabos joined a year later in 1989, followed by Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo in 1996, Cancun in 2001, and Guadalajara in 2003. The latest Mexican destination is Loreto (LTO) which joined the carrier’s route map in 2008.
Alaska Airlines connects 6 U.S. cities directly to Los Cabos International Airport (SJD). These 6 U.S. cities include Alaska’s four hubs (LAX, PDX, SFO, SEA) and San Jose (SJC), and San Diego (SAN).
Regarding Guadalajara flights, Alaska provides direct links between Guadalajara Airport (GDL), LAX, and SJC. On the other hand, Alaska’s services to Cancun International Airport (CUN) are seasonal. During peak season, passengers can fly with AS from CUN to LAX, PDX, SFO, SEA, and SAN.
Similarly, Alaska serves Loreto Airport (LTO), Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo Airport (ZIH), and Mazatlan Airport (MZT) year-round from LAX and seasonally from SFO.
Puerto Vallarta Airport (PVR) receives regular Alaska flights from LAX, SAN, SFO, and SJC. Likewise, Playa de Oro International Airport (ZLO) accommodates Alaska passengers from Los Angeles.
