Alaska Adds San Jose Flights and 50% More Seats at Paine Field

If you live north of Seattle, getting to Sea-Tac can mean a long drive on I-5 and a gamble with traffic before you even reach the terminal. Alaska Airlines just announced a sizable upgrade to the alternative: Paine Field in Everett (PAE). The airline says it will increase seats on flights out of Paine Field by 50 percent between this fall and summer 2027, and it has put a brand-new California route on sale. Here is what has been announced. Starting April 14, 2027, Alaska will fly nonstop between Paine Field and San Jose (SJC) twice a day. Those flights will be operated by Horizon Air, Alaska's sister carrier, using 76-seat Embraer 175 jets. Tickets are already available on alaskaair.com. Beyond the new route, Alaska plans to run twice-daily service to Los Angeles (LAX) using larger Boeing 737 aircraft, two daily flights to Portland (PDX), and added seats to San Diego (SAN) and San Francisco (SFO). Alaska says the extra capacity will arrive gradually, starting this fall, rather than all at once. Andrew Harrison, Alaska's chief commercial officer, described Paine Field as an important part of the airline's Puget Sound network. The move fits Alaska's broader push to be the leading West Coast carrier while spreading its flying beyond its main base at Sea-Tac. I could not find published fares for the new flights, and exact start dates for the added Los Angeles and Portland frequencies were not specified in the sources I reviewed, so check the booking calendar for the specific days you want. Why this matters if you are booking. For travelers in Everett, Snohomish County, Lynnwood and the north Puget Sound, a small airport with a short list of destinations is often easier to use than a large hub. Larger planes to Los Angeles are a particularly useful change, since 737s carry more passengers than the smaller regional jets that often serve these routes, which should mean more seats on peak days and a better chance of finding a last-minute option. For Silicon Valley travelers, a nonstop to San Jose is a convenient alternative to routing through Seattle for trips to the Snohomish County area, including visits to family, business at the region's aerospace employers and outdoor trips to the Cascades. What to do now. First, decide whether the new route fits your calendar. The San Jose flights do not begin until mid-April 2027, so they will not help with holiday travel this year. If you are planning a spring trip, you can book now, but remember that airlines can adjust schedules, so keep an eye on emails from Alaska and confirm your flight a few weeks before departure. Second, compare total cost, not only the fare. Paine Field flights can be priced differently from Sea-Tac departures. Price both airports for your dates, then add the cost of getting there. Parking, a rideshare or a long drive can change the math, and the time you save skipping the freeway is worth something too. If you are connecting to a long-haul trip, a Paine Field departure to Los Angeles or San Francisco can work as a connection point, but build in enough time between flights. A single ticket on Alaska protects you if the first flight runs late, while two separate tickets do not. Third, protect yourself on thin schedules. Two flights a day on a route means fewer backups when something goes wrong. If your flight is canceled, you may have to wait for the next departure or be rebooked through another airport. For anything time-sensitive, such as a cruise departure, a wedding or a work deadline, consider flying the day before. Under US Department of Transportation rules, you are entitled to a refund to your original form of payment if your flight is canceled and you choose not to travel on the alternative offered. Finally, think about the bigger picture. More seats at Paine Field does not make Sea-Tac less important. Sea-Tac still has far more destinations, including international flights, and remains the better choice for most long-distance trips. But the added capacity gives north Sound travelers a real second option on the busiest West Coast corridors, and competition between two nearby airports tends to help travelers over time. If you have been defaulting to Sea-Tac out of habit, it is worth running a fresh search that includes Paine Field the next time you book a trip to California, Portland or San Diego. Sources Alaska Airlines strengthens its Seattle-area network with major Paine Field growth - Alaska Airlines News - https://news.alaskaair.com/destinations/alaska-airlines-strengthens-its-seattle-area-network-with-major-paine-field-growth/ Alaska Airlines expands its Paine Field flights - The Daily Herald - https://www.heraldnet.com/2026/09/25/alaska-airlines-expands-its-paine-field-flights/ Alaska Airlines Expands Paine Field Flights, Adds San Jose Route - Hoodline - https://hoodline.com/2026/09/alaska-airlines-adds-san-jose-nonstops-from-everett-grows-la-and-portland-flights/