Alaska Airlines to Resume Nonstop Service Between Paine Field and Portland Beginning June 2026

Rhea-AI Summary

Alaska Airlines (NYSE: ALK) will resume nonstop daily service between Seattle Paine Field (PAE) and Portland International Airport (PDX) beginning June 2026. The relaunched route restores a requested Pacific Northwest connection and will offer seamless same-day connections to Alaska's wider network, including cities such as Houston, Nashville, Orlando, Dallas, Bozeman, Spokane, and Austin. Paine Field leadership described the return as a regional benefit that reconnects Snohomish County with Portland and provides travelers faster access to Alaska Airlines' destinations. Tickets are on sale at Alaska Airlines' website.

Market Reality Check

$52.00 Last Close

Volume Volume 2,937,448 is below 20-day average 3,658,321 ahead of this route update. normal

Technical Shares at $52 are trading above the 200-day MA at $50.41, after a recent 52-week high near $78.08.

Peers on Argus

While ALK gained 0.25%, key peers were mixed: AAL up 1.15%, CPA up 3.6%, LUV up 0.88%, JBLU up 0.63%, and SKYW slightly down 0.12%, suggesting stock-specific rather than broad sector momentum.

Historical Context

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Dec 18	Route expansion	Positive	+1.2%	Announced seven new 2026 nonstop routes from Anchorage and Portland.
Dec 17	SAF partnership	Positive	-2.3%	Joined partners to build Hawai'i-based sustainable aviation fuel supply chain.
Dec 10	Brand sponsorship	Positive	+4.5%	Returned as presenting sponsor of New Year's at the Needle broadcast.
Dec 09	International route	Positive	+0.7%	Began selling tickets for new Seattle–London Heathrow 787-9 service.
Dec 02	Operational update	Positive	+0.3%	Reported strong Thanksgiving reliability metrics and nearly 7,100 flights.

Pattern Detected

Recent company news has generally seen share price gains, with one divergence where positive SAF partnership news coincided with a negative price reaction.

Recent Company History

Over the past month, Alaska Air Group has highlighted network growth, partnerships, and operational performance. On Dec 18, it added seven new Anchorage and Portland routes for 2026, and on Dec 17 it joined a Hawai'i-based sustainable aviation fuel partnership. Earlier releases covered sponsorship of New Year's at the Needle, new Seattle–London Heathrow service from May 21, 2026, and strong Thanksgiving operating metrics. Today’s Paine Field–Portland restart fits this ongoing network and brand expansion narrative.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement extends Alaska’s recent focus on network growth, adding back a daily Paine Field–Portland nonstop that connects into broader routes such as Houston, Nashville, and Orlando. It follows earlier news of new Anchorage and Portland routes and future Seattle–London service. Investors may track how restored regional connectivity influences load factors and revenue alongside previously disclosed Q4 guidance headwinds and integration and cost-discipline initiatives in recent SEC filings.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

SEATTLE, Dec. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Propeller Airports is pleased to announce that Alaska Airlines will resume nonstop service between Seattle Paine Field International Airport (PAE) and Portland International Airport (PDX) starting June 2026, restoring a highly requested connection for travelers across the greater Puget Sound region.

The relaunched route will operate daily and offer seamless connections to Alaska's broader network. This includes quick connections to cities like Houston, Nashville, Orlando, Dallas, Bozeman, Spokane, and Austin.

"We're thrilled that Alaska is bringing Portland service back to Paine Field," said Brett Smith, CEO of Propeller Airports; the company that owns and operates the commercial terminal at PAE. "Guests have been asking for this route to return, and we're excited that our customers will have a fast, easy, and reliable option that links two of the Pacific Northwest's most important economic and cultural hubs."

Paine Field leadership welcomed the announcement as a major benefit to travelers. "This is great news for our community and great news for the region," said Joshua Marcy, Airport Director at Paine Field. "Restoring service to Portland not only reconnects Snohomish County with one of the Northwest's key cities, but it also gives residents seamless access to Alaska Airlines' vast network of destinations beyond PDX."

Tickets to Portland are currently on sale at www.alaskaair.com.

About Alaska Air Group

Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group, and McGee Air Services is a subsidiary of Alaska Airlines. We are a global airline with hubs in Seattle, Honolulu, Portland, Anchorage, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. We deliver remarkable care as we fly our guests to more than 140 destinations throughout North America, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific. We'll serve Europe beginning in spring 2026. Guests can book travel at alaskaair.com and hawaiianairlines.com. Alaska is a member of the oneworld alliance, with Hawaiian scheduled to join oneworld in spring 2026. With oneworld and our additional global partners, guests can earn and redeem points for travel to over 1,000 worldwide destinations with Atmos Rewards. Learn more about what's happening at Alaska and Hawaiian at news.alaskaair.com. Alaska Air Group is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as "ALK."

About Propeller Airports

Based in Everett, Washington, Propeller identifies untapped potential for commercial air travel by working with local communities and government to maximize airport assets.  Propeller Airports is focused on opportunities to invest, develop, and manage both general aviation and commercial service airports throughout the U.S.  Propeller, along with Global Infrastructure Partners, a part of BlackRock, is focused on bringing best in class practices to Seattle Paine Field for the benefit of travelers throughout the Puget Sound Region.  For more information, please visit www.flypainefield.com, www.propellerairports.com, and www.global-infra.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/alaska-airlines-to-resume-nonstop-service-between-paine-field-and-portland-beginning-june-2026-302647355.html

SOURCE Propeller Airports; Alaska Air Group

FAQ

When will Alaska Airlines (ALK) restart nonstop service between Paine Field (PAE) and Portland (PDX)?

Alaska Airlines will resume daily nonstop service between PAE and PDX beginning June 2026.

How often will Alaska Airlines operate the PAE–PDX route when service resumes in June 2026?

The relaunched PAE–PDX route will operate on a daily schedule.

What connections will the resumed Alaska Airlines (ALK) PAE–PDX flight offer to other cities?

The route will provide seamless connections to Alaska's network, including Houston, Nashville, Orlando, Dallas, Bozeman, Spokane, and Austin.

How does the PAE–PDX route resumption affect travelers in Snohomish County?

Restoring the route reconnects Snohomish County with Portland and gives residents easier access to Alaska Airlines' wider destination network.

Where can I buy tickets for Alaska Airlines flights from Paine Field to Portland (ALK)?

Tickets for the resumed PAE–PDX service are on sale at www.alaskaair.com.

Who announced the return of Alaska Airlines service between Paine Field and Portland on Dec 19, 2025?

Propeller Airports announced that Alaska Airlines will resume nonstop PAE–PDX service beginning June 2026.