Alaska Airlines announces major new lounge investment at San Diego International Airport

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Global Industry News

Alaska Airlines announces major new lounge investment at San Diego International Airport

Policy

Ben Minicucci, CEO of Alaska Airlines | Alaska Airlines

By Sky Industry News

Sep 28, 2025

Alaska Airlines has announced plans to expand its lounge network with a new 13,000-square-foot facility at San Diego International Airport’s Terminal 2. Construction on the lounge is set to begin in early 2027, and it will become the third airline-operated lounge in that terminal.

The new space will serve passengers traveling on Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines, which now operate as a combined entity following their recent merger. The lounge aims to accommodate travelers flying to more than 45 nonstop destinations from San Diego, giving Alaska and Hawaiian the broadest network among carriers at the airport.

According to Todd Traynor-Corey, vice president of guest products and experience at Alaska Airlines: “Our Lounges are more than just a place for guests to wait for their next flight. They're an extension of our signature hospitality and comfort that our guests experience each time they fly with us. With our new San Diego Lounge on the horizon, we're shaping the future of travel with spaces designed to make travel feel seamless, elevated and welcoming."

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The planned lounge will include work areas, local refreshments, fresh food options, a full bar featuring signature cocktails, and a barista station offering handcrafted espresso drinks. Renderings of the space have not yet been released.

Kimberly Becker, president and CEO of the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, commented on Alaska Airlines’ continued expansion: She noted that together with Hawaiian Airlines, their combined network offers strong connectivity. She added that through the oneworld alliance and global partners, travelers can access over 330 destinations worldwide from San Diego International Airport. This increased connectivity has driven demand for additional premium spaces.

Currently, Terminal 2 hosts two other airline lounges—the United Club and Delta Sky Club—as well as two non-airline lounges: Aspire Lounge and Chase Sapphire Lounge.

Alaska Airlines has expanded its operations at San Diego International Airport in recent years. Six months ago, it increased flight frequencies by 30% and added three new nonstop routes. In March 2025, Alaska announced further nonstop services from San Diego aimed at improving connectivity for travelers. On August 20 this year, it launched year-round service to Phoenix (PHX) with three daily flights; upcoming launches include Chicago O’Hare (ORD) and Denver (DEN), both starting October 4 with three daily flights each. Beginning October 26, service frequency will rise by more than half on several popular routes such as Las Vegas, Sacramento, San Jose (California), and Salt Lake City.

First class passengers flying over 2,000 miles receive complimentary access to all Alaska Lounges across six U.S. airports—Seattle (SEA), San Francisco (SFO), Los Angeles (LAX), New York (JFK), Portland (PDX), and Anchorage (ANC). Lounge+ members can also use every Alaska Lounge along with nearly ninety partner facilities like American Airlines Admirals Club.

Kimberly Becker stated that growing passenger numbers make expanding premium offerings a logical step as international connections increase through alliances like oneworld.