Monopoly: Alaska Airlines To Expand Presence In Everett, Plans 50% Increase In Seats By Spring

Published Sep 25, 2026, 4:18 PM EDT Journalist – Aaron is an aviation and travel journalist with 14 years of experience in the travel and tourism industry. His background spans airport operations, aviation infrastructure, and travel consulting, having worked with global organizations across New Zealand, Europe, and North America. Combining industry expertise with firsthand travel experience across more than 52 countries and five continents, Aaron covers airlines, airports, aviation policy, and the wider travel sector. He is based in Canterbury, New Zealand. His work has been published in Simple Flying and featured by MSN, SAM CHUI Aviation & Travel, EIN News, Pakistan Defence, and Climate Depot. Seattle-based Alaska Airlines will strengthen its presence at Seattle Paine Field International Airport (PAE) this coming fall, as the airline grows its operations at the second Seattle airport by more than 50%. This growth will provide passengers even more options for traveling to and from the airport to destinations across the US West Coast. Travelers to and from the Puget Sound area will enjoy more ways to fly from Everett from the fall through to summer 2027, as the airline adds a new route to San Jose, while adding additional capacity on its existing routes to Los Angeles, Portland, San Diego and San Francisco. Existing routes to Las Vegas, Orange County, and Phoenix remain unchanged, with seasonal services to Honolulu and Palm Springs also set to return. 50% More Capacity at Seattle Paine Field International Airport Credit: Wenjie Zheng | Shutterstock Alaska plans to grow its capacity at Seattle Paine Field by around 50%, bringing more flights and extra seats to provide convenient access to its network across the West Coast. These moves by the carrier further strengthen the airline's dominance on the West Coast, and given that the airline is the only operator at Paine Field, these capacity increases bolster the airline's monopoly at the airport. In April, the carrier will resume its operations to Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC), which will add a link to the San Francisco Bay Area. This route will be operated twice daily and flown with the airline's subsidiary Horizon Air on board the Embraer E175 aircraft. Andrew Harrison, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Alaska Airlines, explained the airline's decision to expand operations at Everett: "Paine Field is an important part of our Puget Sound network, giving guests a simpler, more convenient way to access Alaska’s West Coast flying. As we grow, we’re strengthening our presence across the region with more seats, more frequency and more convenient travel options for guests in Snohomish County, North Seattle and beyond.” More Flights And More Choice From Everett By Next Summer Credit: Alaska Airlines Travelers from the Puget Sound region will enjoy even more choice on routes from Everett by next summer, as the airline adds more depth and builds on its West Coast network from the airport. A new nonstop service to San Jose will be enjoyed by both business and leisure travelers, and this route complements the growth of existing routes as detailed below: Seattle Paine Field International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) will increase to twice daily, operating on the 737 aircraft, while Portland International Airport (PDX) will also grow from one to two daily flights. Additional capacity will be added on its existing routes to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and San Diego International Airport (SAN). A full list of the airline's network at PAE is detailed below: Year-Round Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Orange County, Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Portland (OR), San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose (CA) (resumes on April 14, 2027) Seasonal Honolulu, Palm Springs Alaska's expansion at Everett comes in the wake of Denver-based ultra-low-cost carrier Frontier Airlines exiting the airport in January, where the airline operated to Denver (DEN), Phoenix, and Las Vegas. Growing Popularity For Seattle Paine Field International Airport Credit: Joe A. Kunzler | Shutterstock Everett is just 30 minutes from downtown Seattle, and the airport is a popular choice as the only alternative to the busier Seattle (SEA). Since Frontier's exit from Everett, Alaska Airlines is the only scheduled commercial operator at the airport. Between May 2025 and April 2026, according to data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Alaska Airlines still maintained more than 94% of all flights at the airport, making it difficult for Frontier to make its mark. The most popular route from Everett during the same data period was to Phoenix, where the two airlines transported more than 96,000 passengers. The second most popular route was to Las Vegas. Seattle Paine Field International Airport has two runways and is adjacent to the Boeing Everett Factory. Alaska's continued growth at Everett comes as passengers look for an alternative airport to Seattle, and a closer choice to those in Snohomish County and North Seattle. The smaller terminal experience and faster security lines have driven increased interest at the boutique airport.