Alaska Airlines is doubling down on investment in its fast-growing hubs in San Diego and Portland, Ore. — where it unveiled a dozen new destinations last week.
But it’s not all good news everywhere.
The airline is slightly scaling back operations in California’s two largest cities to free up aircraft to support the airline’s latest 13-route expansion.
Over the weekend, the Seattle-based airline told TPG it would cut some routes from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) – news first reported by industry observer Ihrion Aviation.
“The underlying reason for these adjustments is the need to discipline our aircraft in 2026 as the number of new aircraft entering our fleet decreases,” an Alaska spokesperson said in a statement. “While these decisions are difficult, SFO and LAX remain key markets for us.”
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Alaska Airlines cuts routes
While Alaska Airlines has not confirmed the specific routes it plans to cut, this weekend’s updated Cirium schedule, reviewed by TPG, shows the airline plans to eliminate a total of four routes from San Francisco International Airport and three from Los Angeles International Airport.
These routes are:
- SFO to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
- SFO to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
- SFO to Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR)
- SFO to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
- SFO to Orlando International Airport (MCO)
- LAX to Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO)
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC)
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The network cuts Alaska requested for its SFO hub include a handful of transcontinental flights to major U.S. markets from the New York City area to Boston and Orlando.
Flight cuts at Los Angeles International Airport in Alaska are focused on regional jet service, a spokesman said.
Additionally, Cirium schedules indicate the airline will not resume seasonal service from Anchorage to Detroit in 2026.
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Great changes on the west coast
It’s all part of a larger network reorganization on Alaska’s west coast. The airline has significantly expanded its footprint at San Diego International Airport (SAN) and Portland International Airport (PDX) in recent months.
That includes a long list of new destinations in Alaska that landed at both airports last week.
But with a limited number of aircraft, these SANs and PDXs are expanding at the expense of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) – both more competitive airports and major hubs for legacy U.S. airlines.
SFO is United Airlines’ main hub. United Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines all have hubs at Los Angeles International Airport.
A revamp of Alaska’s west coast network appears to be something the airline has been considering for months.
In an interview with TPG this summer, Alaska Airlines’ top network planner said opportunities to grow connecting traffic in Portland and the growing customer affinity of San Diego’s loyalty program were the top reasons the airline turned its attention to those cities.
Meanwhile, in San Francisco, the airline described its posture as “waiting mode” as it adds service to other West Coast hubs, Kirsten Amrine, Alaska’s vice president of revenue management and network planning, told TPG in an interview in late July.
“There are only so many airplanes in the world, and I just think we have more opportunities in San Diego and Portland,” Amring said. “but [SFO] Still our hub. We still have the lounge that we just opened last year…it’s definitely still a focus for us. “
Amrine said Alaska will cut the ribbon on its new 11,000-square-foot Alaska Lounge at SFO’s new Harvey Milk Terminal in 2024.
An Alaska spokesman on Saturday called the airport “a critical part of our long-term growth” and pointed to “positive signs” of a “healthy” rebound in business travel and vacation bookings so far.
TPG’s Zach Griff and Edward Russell contributed reporting.
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