SEATTLE- Alaska Airlines (AS) is expanding its California network with four new nonstop routes from Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport (STS) in Santa Rosa and Long Beach Municipal Airport (LGB). Tickets for all routes are now on sale at alaskaair.com.
Three new seasonal routes from Santa Rosa connect to Boise Airport (BOI), Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), and Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) starting November 1, 2026, while a year-round twice-daily service between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and Long Beach launches September 8, 2026.
Alaska Airlines Adds 3 New Routes
Alaska Airlines has long maintained a dominant presence at Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport, having been the first carrier to introduce commercial service there nearly two decades ago. The airline remains the largest carrier serving Santa Rosa to this day.
The three new routes from Santa Rosa target winter travel demand. Salt Lake City and Boise give North Bay passengers direct access to popular ski destinations ahead of the 2026-27 ski season. Phoenix adds a warm-weather option, rounding out Santa Rosa’s nonstop total to 12 destinations. All three routes operate on the Embraer E175 aircraft and run through mid-to-late April 2027.
| City Pair | Start Date | End Date | Frequency | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Rosa (STS) – Boise (BOI) | Nov. 1, 2026 | Apr. 19, 2027 | Up to daily | E175 |
| Santa Rosa (STS) – Phoenix (PHX) | Nov. 1, 2026 | Apr. 21, 2027 | Daily | E175 |
| Santa Rosa (STS) – Salt Lake City (SLC) | Nov. 1, 2026 | Apr. 21, 2027 | Up to daily | E175 |
“Alaska is committed to California, and we’re proud to offer guests across the state even more options for their next vacation or work trip,” said Kirsten Amrine, Vice President of Network Planning and Revenue Management at Alaska Airlines.
Wine Flies Free: A Perk Built for Wine Country Travelers
Alaska’s Wine Flies Free program, active since 2007, continues to be a standout benefit for Santa Rosa travelers.
Atmos Rewards members can check a full case of wine, up to 12 bottles, at no additional charge.
The program is built to serve the region’s wine tourism culture and gives North Bay travelers a practical reason to choose Alaska for trips home from wine country.
Alaska Airlines Returns to Long Beach
Alaska Airlines is returning to Long Beach Municipal Airport (LGB) after a ten-year absence. Beginning September 8, 2026, the airline will operate two daily flights between Long Beach and Seattle on Boeing 737 aircraft, running year-round.
Hawaiian Airlines (HA) currently serves Long Beach with flights to Honolulu Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) and Kahului Airport (OGG) on Maui. Alaska’s return adds a new competitive option for Southern California travelers seeking alternatives to the region’s busier airports.
With this addition, Alaska becomes the only airline operating nonstop service between Seattle and all five major Los Angeles Basin airports. The airline already holds the record for serving more California airports year-round than any other carrier.
| City Pair | Start Date | End Date | Frequency | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle (SEA) – Long Beach (LGB) | Sept. 8, 2026 | Year-round | 2x daily | 737 |
Starlink Wi-Fi Comes Standard on New Routes
Alaska Airlines operates the only regional fleet in the world with Starlink Wi-Fi installed on every aircraft.
All three Santa Rosa routes, flown on the E175, will offer gate-to-gate connectivity through a new onboard portal powered by T-Mobile. Atmos Rewards membership is free and includes complimentary Wi-Fi access alongside points earned toward future travel.
Starlink is also being rolled out across Alaska’s mainline 737 fleet throughout 2026, which means Long Beach passengers will gain access to the same high-speed connectivity as the expansion progresses.
Alaska Airlines Charts a Premium Global Product Roadmap
Alaska Airlines (AS) has launched its first-ever nonstop European service, operating between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) aboard a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.
The route marks a significant step in the carrier’s transformation into a global airline following its 2024 acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines (HA).
While the new widebody product features premium business-class suites, the aircraft currently lacks a true premium economy cabin, Starlink Wi-Fi, and a top-tier home airport lounge. Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci has confirmed all three are in active development, with timelines now in place.
Premium Economy Arrives on the 787 Fleet in 2028
Alaska Airlines (AS) does not currently offer a dedicated premium economy cabin on its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. The aircraft, originally ordered by Hawaiian Airlines (HA) before the merger closed in 2024, was configured without the mid-cabin recliner product that has become standard on most long-haul international fleets.
The carrier’s current 787 seat map does label certain seats as “Premium,” but these are economy seats with extra legroom, identical in concept to the same branding used on its narrowbody Boeing 737s. They do not represent the international-style premium economy product offered by carriers such as United Airlines or American Airlines.
CEO Ben Minicucci confirmed that Alaska (AS) plans to begin retrofitting its 787s with a true premium economy cabin starting in 2028. “I think that’s really going to enhance the product. That’s one of the most popular products on long-haul, it’s one of the most profitable products on long-haul,” Minicucci said while speaking from Rome.
Hawaiian’s A330 Fleet Also Gets a Premium Economy Upgrade
The Boeing 787-9 is not the only widebody aircraft receiving a cabin overhaul. Alaska Air Group has confirmed that Hawaiian Airlines’ (HA) older Airbus A330 fleet will also undergo a significant interior retrofit beginning in 2028.
The A330 makeover includes replacing the aging lie-flat business class seats with new suites and introducing premium economy for the first time on those aircraft. The retrofits align with Alaska’s broader strategy to create a consistent, competitive premium product across its entire international operation.
A World-Class Lounge Coming to Seattle-Tacoma (SEA)
Alaska Airlines is planning a flagship premium lounge at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), its newly designated global hub. The facility will span approximately 40,000 square feet and will be located on the airport’s C Concourse.
The lounge is designed to serve business-class passengers and high-tier members of the Atmos Rewards loyalty program, specifically Titanium elite members.
Alaska has positioned this as a step above its existing Alaska Lounge network, drawing comparisons in concept to American Airlines’ Flagship Lounge and United Airlines’ Polaris Lounge, though the carrier has distanced itself from direct competitor comparisons.
Minicucci emphasized a Pacific Northwest identity for the space, which will span multiple levels and include shower facilities. “If you’re going to charge for the product, we want the entire end-to-end experience to be fantastic,” he said. The lounge is expected to open within the next two years.
Alaska (AS) also recently debuted a new premium check-in lobby at Seattle-Tacoma (SEA), available exclusively to Suites cabin passengers and Atmos Rewards Titanium elite members, further building out the ground experience at its home base.
Atmos Rewards Program: Choice Accrual and Growth Milestones
Alaska’s Atmos Rewards loyalty program, launched nine months ago and shared across the Alaska (AS) and Hawaiian (HA) brands, is gaining traction across multiple fronts.
One of the program’s most anticipated features, “choice accrual,” which allows members to earn points and status based on money spent, miles flown, or segments flown, has not yet launched. Currently, all members earn exclusively based on miles flown. The carrier’s loyalty chief, Brett Catlin, confirmed that choice accrual will roll out later in 2026, likely timed to align with the start of the 2027 status year.
On the credit card side, Alaska recently surpassed 100,000 cardholders for its Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite Card, a premium travel card launched alongside the loyalty program last year.
The program is also influencing network decisions. Alaska (AS) recently celebrated 100 daily departures from San Diego International Airport (SAN), a growth milestone that the carrier’s top network planner, Kirsten Amrine, linked directly to strong loyalty program and credit card performance in the market.
“We’re seeing really good passenger growth, but what we also need to see is, are we seeing the loyalty program growing, are we seeing the card — both members and spend — improve,” Amrine said. “We’re really encouraged by what we’re seeing.”
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