Alaska Airlines is adjusting its flight schedule by removing four transcontinental routes. These changes are set to take effect by August 19, with one seasonal route not being renewed. This adjustment is part of a broader strategy by Alaska Air Group, which aims to align market demand with available routes and fleet capability. To compensate, Hawaiian Airlines, part of the Alaska Air Group, will introduce flights using Boeing 787s.
Despite outreach by Simple Flying, Alaska Airlines did not provide comments before the press deadline. However, the airline’s adjustments come as Alaska Air Group prepares for its Q1 2025 analyst conference call scheduled for Thursday at 8:30 a.m. PT / 11:30 a.m. ET.
The routes being discontinued include flights from San Francisco International Airport to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and Washington DC’s Dulles International Airport. Additionally, flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Washington Dulles and Nassau, Bahamas, will also cease. The routes to Washington Dulles are legacy connections following Alaska Airlines’ 2017 acquisition of Virgin America. The connection from Los Angeles to Nassau was an effort to expand international services, as noted by Kirsten Amrine, vice president of revenue management and network planning for Alaska Airlines, who stated, “We’re also now flying our guests to countries we’ve never served before as we increase our international service.”
While these changes result in 12.02 million available seat miles being removed from Alaska Airlines’ network, the airline maintains other options. Connections will continue from Los Angeles and San Francisco to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Additionally, alternatives are available through United Airlines, American Airlines, and Southwest Airlines for routes connecting California to Washington Dulles.
Looking ahead, Hawaiian Airlines will employ its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner fleet for a regular service between Seattle and Honolulu starting August 20. Also, beginning September 11, a second Boeing 787-9 will replace an Airbus A330-200 on routes between Honolulu and Seattle, although Los Angeles will lose its connection. Meanwhile, New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport will receive new service to Honolulu.
The forthcoming Alaska Air Group earnings call may provide further insights into why these changes are being made. The group must also prepare for rising costs from various sources.
