Alaska Air's West Coast growth continues with new California city
Alaska Airlines is expanding its route map to include the California city of San Luis Obispo, which will get nonstop service to the carrier’s biggest hub in Seattle in April.
The new California route comes as Alaska Airlines has been beefing up its presence on routes along the West Coast. Alaska Airlines already is one of the West’s biggest players, and its presence in the region will grow substantially if its proposed acquisition of San Francisco-based Virgin America wins approval.
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For now, the San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport will become the 16th California destination for Alaska Air.
Beginning April 13, Alaska Air affiliate SkyWest will fly one daily round-trip flight to Seattle on 76-seat Embraer E175 jets.
At San Luis Obispo, Alaska Airlines becomes the third passenger airline brand to fly from the airport. American Airlines offers four daily round-trip flights to its Phoenix hub while United’s schedule shows three daily round trips to both Los Angeles and San Francisco. United will add a fourth daily LAX-San Luis Obispo in August. The San Luis Obispo flights for both American and United are operated by their regional affiliates.
Alaska Air adds intra-California routes, touts international links
“The community welcomes Alaska Airlines and eagerly anticipates service to Seattle,” Kevin Bumen, director of airports for San Luis Obispo County, says in a statement. “This new route will provide a vital link between the Pacific Northwest and the Central Coast for business and tourism.”
San Luis Obispo is city of about 50,000 people along California's central coast. It's located roughly halfway between the Bay Area and metro L.A.. Both Los Angeles and San Jose are about 190 miles away to the south and north, respectively. The surrounding county of San Luis Obispo had about 270,000, according to the 2010 U.S. Census.
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