Alaska Paine Field expansion plans call for 50% more seats from fall 2026 through summer 2027. San José service is scheduled to return April 14, 2027, alongside changes on other West Coast routes.
San José flights return, rather than launch for the first time
Alaska’s September 24 announcement describes an addition to its network. San José Mineta International Airport’s October 5 release clarifies that the Paine Field route is returning after a six-year hiatus. Horizon Air will operate the service.
Alaska Paine Field expansion: announced route changes
| Destination from PAE | Announced change | Timing or aircraft |
|---|---|---|
| San José (SJC) | Restored nonstop service, twice daily | April 14, 2027; Horizon Air Embraer 175 |
| Los Angeles (LAX) | Twice daily | Larger Boeing 737 aircraft; expansion period runs through summer 2027 |
| Portland (PDX) | Two flights daily | Part of the announced expansion |
| San Diego (SAN) and San Francisco (SFO) | More seats | Resulting frequencies and seat totals not specified |
Check the airport code before booking
The announcement concerns Seattle/Everett’s Paine Field (PAE). Do not confuse it with Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA). Compare the airport shown on each itinerary, ground transport and the operating carrier before buying. Use Alaska’s booking site for date-specific availability and prices rather than treating this announcement as a live timetable.
For separate SEA reporting, see our SEA Airport duty-free expansion update.
Sources: Alaska’s Paine Field announcement and San José airport’s restored-service release.
Correction, October 9, 2026: An earlier excerpt incorrectly referred to fall 2023 and a July 2023 announcement. The airline report is dated September 24, 2026. We also clarified that San José service is returning.
