Alaska Airlines will grow its seats at Seattle/Everett's Paine Field (PAE) by 50%, starting in fall 2026 and running through the summer of 2027, the airline announced on September 24, 2026. The headline route is new: twice-daily nonstops between Everett and San Jose, California (SJC), starting April 14, 2027 on Horizon Air's Embraer 175. Tickets are on sale now at alaskaair.com.
The other changes in the release add flights or seats on routes Paine Field already has. Los Angeles moves to twice daily on larger Boeing 737 aircraft, Portland moves to two daily flights, and San Diego and San Francisco get more seats. If you live in Snohomish County or North Seattle, the travelers Alaska says it's targeting, that means more West Coast nonstops close to home.
What Alaska Announced for Paine Field
Here's the plan as Alaska laid it out in its September 24 release:
- San Jose (SJC): new nonstop service from April 14, 2027, twice daily, operated by Horizon Air on the Embraer 175.
- Los Angeles (LAX): grows to twice-daily service, with both flights on larger Alaska Boeing 737 aircraft.
- Portland (PDX): grows to two daily flights.
- San Diego (SAN) and San Francisco (SFO): more seats.
Alaska announced the Los Angeles, Portland, San Diego and San Francisco changes together with the 50% seat growth that starts this fall.
Alaska ties the move to its Seattle operation. "Paine Field complements Alaska's Seattle hub by extending convenient access to more guests across the Puget Sound region," the release says.
Andrew Harrison, Alaska's executive vice president and chief commercial officer, named the travelers the airline has in mind: "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."
Brett Smith, chief executive of Propeller Airports, said travelers keep telling the company that "there is strong demand for more convenient air service from Paine Field."
Why the San Jose Route Matters
San Jose is the only new city in the announcement, and Alaska says the twice-daily schedule is meant to make it "easier for guests to reach the South Bay and Bay Area." Paired with the extra San Francisco seats, that gives Paine Field flyers two Bay Area airports to pick from, so you can choose the one closer to where you're actually going.
The aircraft is worth knowing before you book. San Jose flights are operated by Horizon Air on the Embraer 175, while Alaska says both Los Angeles flights will be on larger Boeing 737s. Check the seat map for your flight when you pick a seat.
How to Book and Earn
San Jose flights are bookable now on alaskaair.com, and the service starts April 14, 2027. If you're planning a trip on Los Angeles, Portland, San Diego or San Francisco, check the schedule on alaskaair.com for your dates before you commit.
If you fly Alaska from Paine Field, our Atmos Rewards guide covers how Alaska's points and status points work and what each tier gets you. If you're deciding which card to put the ticket on, we walk through that in which card to use for an Alaska ticket, and our roundup of the best Alaska Airlines credit cards covers the Atmos-earning cards themselves.
What Changes and When
San Jose flights start April 14, 2027, twice daily from Paine Field, and they're on sale now. Alaska announced the Los Angeles move to two daily 737 flights, Portland's move to two daily flights and the extra San Diego and San Francisco seats alongside the 50% seat growth it says starts this fall and runs through summer 2027. The schedule on alaskaair.com is where to confirm the flights for the dates you want.
Sources
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