Alaska Airlines is planning a significant expansion out of Paine Field in Everett, Washington, saying it is set to increase capacity by 50% through spring 2027 via a mix of new routes and increased seat capacity.
The Seattle-based carrier started operating from Paine Field in March 2019. Its latest growth at PAE is driven by “strong demand” for more convenient air service from this passenger-pleasing facility.
“Paine Field is an important part of our Puget Sound network, giving guests a simpler, more convenient way to access Alaska’s West Coast flying,” EVP and Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Harrison said.
“As we grow, we’re strengthening our presence across the region with more seats, more frequency and more convenient travel options for guests in Snohomish County, North Seattle and beyond.”
The splashiest change comes from a brand new addition to the map with twice-daily service to San Jose (SJC). The route is set to launch on April 14, 2027 and will be operated by 76-seat Horizon Air Embraer E175 jets, which have been fitted with SpaceX’s Starlink Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite-powered inflight connectivity service.
The Paine Field-San Jose route will provide the north Seattle metro region with its second Bay Area destination from Paine Field, complimenting existing service to San Francisco (SFO).
The bulk of the expansion, however, will come from a big boost in seat capacity across the airline’s existing Paine Field network. Los Angeles (LAX) and Portland (PDX) will increase in frequencies, growing from their existing single daily flight to twice-daily in early 2027.
At the same time, Los Angeles will shift from the Embraer E175 to the larger Boeing 737 (800/900) fleet.
Alaska Airlines is also touting “more seats” for its services linking Paine Field with San Diego and San Francisco.
It is currently the only carrier operating out of PAE. United Airlines flew a handful of routes between 2019 and 2021 before pulling out amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Budget carrier Frontier lasted seven months, running three destinations thrice-weekly from June 2025 to January 2026. Southwest had initially committed to the airport, but backed out before getting started.
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Featured image credited to the author, Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren. Embedded map credited to Alaska Airlines
