Paine to paradise: Alaska Airlines launches daily Everett-Hawaii flight

EVERETT — Alaska Airlines, which takes its name from the 49th state, will begin offering flights from Paine Field to the 50th this fall.

The Seattle-based carrier launches daily non-stop service from Everett to Honolulu on Nov. 17.

“For those traveling between Honolulu and Washington State, flying into Everett will be a terrific, less congested option and a great way to access the greater Seattle area,” said Daniel Chun, director of sales, community and public relations in Hawaii for Alaska Airlines.

The Everett passenger terminal opened in March 2019 with two jet bridges and a third gate that boards from the pavement. Since then, locals have besieged Alaska Airlines and FlyPaineField.com with requests for a Hawaii connection.

“If there’s one place our guests told us again and again that they wanted to fly to from Seattle’s northern airport, it’s beautiful Hawaii. We’ve been eager to make it happen,” said Kirsten Amrine, vice president of revenue management and network planning for Alaska Airlines.

Alaska’s response appears to be sooner than expected.

Brett Catlin, vice president of network and alliances at parent Alaska Air Group, told The Daily Herald a year ago that the airline was considering longer-range service from the Snohomish County airport, including an Everett-Hawaii route, but then said it could be a “couple years.”

Alaska offered nonstop service from Bellingham International Airport to Hawaii but those flights have been discontinued. “You can take Southwest to Oakland and then to Hawaii,” a Bellinghham airport official said. The Bellingham airport is served by Alaska, Allegiant Airlines and Southwest Air.

Tickets are now available for Everett-Honolulu flights, the airline said.

At nearly 2,700 miles, it will be Alaska’s longest flight from the Everett airport. Service from Paine Field to Anchorage, which began last year, is second at roughly 1,400 miles.

Service will be provided by the airline’s Boeing 737 fleet, Alaska said.

“This new hassle-free service from Paine Field will allow Alaska passengers to start their vacation before they even leave. We are excited for this new route, which is sure to be extremely popular. Aloha!” said Brett Smith, CEO of Propeller Airports, which built and operates the terminal.

Alaska offered nonstop service from Bellingham International Airport to Hawaii but those flights have been discontinued. “You can take Southwest to Oakland and then to Hawaii,” a Bellinghham airport official said. The Bellingham airport is served by Alaska, Allegiant Airlines, Southwest Airlines and San Juan Airlines.

Alaska Airlines and sibling regional carrier Horizon Air are the sole airline tenants serving Paine Field. United Airlines ended service at the Snohomish County-owned airport in October 2021.

From Everett, the two carriers currently serve nine destinations: Anchorage, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Orange County, Palm Springs (seasonal), Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco and Tucson (seasonal). Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, also known as Honolulu International Airport, will be the tenth.

The island of Oahu is home to Waikiki Beach, Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head State Monument and about 70% of the state’s population.

Requests for flights from Everett to Denver or Chicago continue to pop up on social media.

When United Airlines exited the terminal in 2021, it left a gaping hole for many eastbound travelers. United Airlines operated up to six daily flights, including flights to its Denver hub — a gateway to the Midwest and East Coast.

Alaska Airlines has no plans afoot to serve the Mile High City, Alaska spokesman Ray Lane said this week.

Janice Podsada: 425-339-3097; jpodsada@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @JanicePods.