Alaska Airlines Commits To Paine Field With Latest Expansion

Simple Flying

By Jay Singh

Published Jun 5, 2021

Alaska Airlines planes wait to transport the first passengers to their destinations as commercial flights began Monday morning at the new Everett Paine Field Airport terminal, March 4, 2019. The inaugural flight left at 10 am, carrying state and local dignitaries to Portland, and two subsequent flights departed to Las Vegas and Phoenix. The opening ceremony included a ribbon cutting and unveiling of a statue of Lt. Topliff Paine, the Everett army pilot for whom the airport is named. Alaska and United Airlines will have offer a combined 24 flights daily to nine destinations. (Genna Martin, Seattlepi.com) (Photo by Genna Martin/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)

Everett's Paine Field (PAE) is still a major airport for Alaska Airlines. The carrier is doubling down on Paine Field with plans to restore its full schedule by the spring of 2022 at the latest while adding a new route this winter to Arizona.

Alaska Airlines plans a full return to Paine Field

By the spring of 2022, Alaska Airlines plans to resume its full schedule of 18 daily nonstop departures from the airport. By this fall, Alaska will get to 13 daily departures out of Paine Field.

On June 17th, Alaska will fly to five destinations from Everett: Las Vegas (LAS), Orange County (SNA), Phoenix (PHX), San Diego (SAN), and San Francisco (SFO). These are key markets for Alaska Airlines, with Phoenix being a major hub for its partner – American Airlines.

Starting September 8th, Alaska will go from five to 11 daily departures. This includes two nonstops per day to Boise (BOI) and Spokane (GEG), with second daily flights to both Las Vegas and Phoenix.

On October 7th, seasonal flights to Palm Springs (PSP) return. Located in Southern California, this is a heavy leisure route that runs in the winter months.

Alaska Paine — The full Alaska Airlines Paine Field network when all flights come back. Photo: Alaska Airlines

A new destination: Tucson

Starting on November 19th, Alaska Airlines will add a new seasonal service to Tucson International Airport (TUS). This will bring Alaska Airlines to 13 daily departures to nine destinations.

Tucson already sees service to the larger Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), which is Alaska's largest hub. Adding Paine Field to Tucson service will allow travelers located in the northern regions of Seattle a more convenient option to get down to Arizona.

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Doubling down in Paine Field

Paine Field is one of the swankiest airports in the country. Opened for passenger services in 2019, Alaska Airlines quickly moved to assert its dominance in the Seattle region by flying out of PAE on point-to-point itineraries.

Brett Catlin, vice president of network and alliances at Alaska, stated the following on the airline's commitment to Paine Field:

"It has definitely been a difficult stretch, but our commitment to Paine Field never wavered. Our guests love the convenience of the airport. Next year, as we continue to offer additional flights, we'll be in a position to resume our full allotment of 18 departures every day to the places our guests want to fly to the most."

All of Alaska's departures out of Paine Field are onboard Horizon Air regional jets. The airline uses the Embraer E175, which features both a first class and extra-legroom economy section, on all routes. WiFi is available on these aircraft for purchase or to stream complimentary entertainment.

Alaska E175 — Alaska Airlines has selected the E175 for operations out of PAE. Photo: Jay Singh | Simple Flying

Alaska Airlines calls Seattle home, and it has sought to continually assert its dominance in the area. With more nonstops across the US than any other airline in Seattle, the airline held its own against the rise of competition.

Paine Field does not detract from the airline's position in SEA. Where SEA caters to a larger number of connecting passengers, PAE is mostly about origin and destination travel, and the Embraers are the perfect jet for these routes.

Are you going to fly Alaska Airlines out of PAE? Let us know in the comments!