Alaska Airlines to grow Paine Field service by 50% with new San Jose route
Alaska Airlines plans to increase seats at Paine Field in Everett, Washington, by half through next spring, adding a new route to San Jose Mineta International Airport. Starting April 14, 2027, the airline will operate two daily flights on 76-seat Embraer E175 aircraft. Alaska is currently the only carrier serving Paine Field.
Alaska Airlines is the sole carrier at Paine Field, a position it has held since United and Frontier exited. The expansion includes a second daily flight to both Los Angeles and Portland, with the LAX route upgrading to Boeing 737s—a seating increase of at least 63% per flight. San Diego service also moves to 737s starting November 1. The airline’s new San Jose route revives service last flown in 2019–2020, using 76-seat Embraer E175s on two daily frequencies beginning April 14, 2027.
The growth at Paine Field strengthens Alaska’s position against Delta at Seattle-Tacoma, where Delta operates a competing hub but does not serve PAE. Seattle’s main airport faces capacity constraints, making the secondary airport increasingly valuable. Alaska’s deep Atmos Rewards membership in the Puget Sound region supports this expansion, which adds seats to California and Oregon destinations through next spring.
This expansion could ease congestion at Seattle-Tacoma by offering travelers a smaller, more convenient alternative, potentially reducing pressure on the region’s main airport. Business and leisure flyers in northern Seattle suburbs may gain more direct options to Silicon Valley and other West Coast hubs, boosting economic connectivity. However, as the only carrier at Paine Field, Alaska’s dominance may limit fare competition, and travelers could face higher prices or fewer choices compared to larger airports. The shift to larger planes on some routes also signals growing demand, which may benefit local tourism and business travel.