Tag Archives: Portland

Alaska Airlines debuts new Lounge in Portland, raising the bar for premium West Coast travel

Alaska Airlines is set to welcome guests to its newest Lounge at Portland International Airport (PDX) when it officially opens on June 4, underscoring its continued investment in premium travel and one of the carrier’s key West Coast hubs.

After more than two years of construction, the approximately 14,000-square-foot Lounge will welcome guests with a warm, thoughtfully designed Pacific Northwest aesthetic, featuring an inviting fireplace and a striking wooden Mt. Hood mural by artist Ben Butler. At twice the size of the current Portland Lounge, it offers more than 200 seats, including Alaska’s Signature Loungers, along with high, open ceilings that bring in natural light and views of Portland’s new terminal. Guests can relax, enjoy fresh, regionally inspired food, sip barista-crafted beverages or cocktails from West Coast partners, or take advantage of ample power plugs and privacy booths for calls and meetings.

Portland guests have chosen Alaska for years and played an important role in our growth in the Pacific Northwest. This new Lounge is our way of thanking them and a reflection of our growing portfolio of premium guest experiences. We look forward to opening our doors this week and welcoming guests with the signature hospitality and thoughtful touches Alaska is known for.”

Shane Jones

Vice President of Fleet, Products and Guest ExperienceAlaska Airlines

Alaska is the largest carrier serving Portland, operating more flights than any other airline, including more than 100 daily departures. Portland is a critical hub in Alaska and Hawaiian’s network with expanding service to over 60 destinations across North America and beyond. This summer, Alaska will launch year-round service to Everett/Paine Field (PAE) and Pasco–Tri-Cities (PSC), along with seasonal service to Jackson Hole (JAC). Last month, new service began to Baltimore (BWI), Bellingham (BLI), Idaho Falls (IDA), Philadelphia (PHL) and St. Louis (STL). By this fall, Alaska will offer 50% more seats in Portland than just two years ago, reflecting strong demand for travel and the airline’s continued investment in the market.

Alaska and Hawaiian lobby at PDX airport

Our strong partnership with Alaska has helped to elevate the new PDX as a world-class destination that showcases the Pacific Northwest and makes everyone feel at home. We’re thrilled their new PDX Lounge is here for the long haul, offering travelers a stunning spot to relax, recharge, and experience a taste of our region.”

Chris Czarnecki

PDX Business and Properties DirectorPort of Portland

The nearly $18 million investment in the Portland Lounge is part of Alaska’s growing Lounge footprint and broader commitment to enhancing the guest experience as it expands globally. Building on this investment, Alaska just announced its plans to open a landmark, more than 41,000-square-foot lounge in 2027. The Lounge, which will be located in Seattle – home to the airline’s main hub – will be the largest in its network and among the largest airline lounges in the country. The airline is also designing its first Lounge in San Diego (SAN) along with a new, expanded Lounge in Honolulu (HNL), both slated for early 2028.

Alaska Airlines Lounge members can access eight premium lounges across Alaska and Hawaiian’s network, including its largest lounge in Seattle and additional locations at its hubs in Anchorage (ANC), Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO). Alaska Lounge+ membership unlocks access to all Alaska Lounges, plus nearly 90 partner lounges worldwide, including select oneworld and partner lounges.

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Delta to restore the seasonal Portland – Anchorage route

https://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-UnitedStates-1/Airlines-UnitedStates-1/Delta-air-lines/i-9tCtWQX

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) will restore the summer seasonal route between Portland, Oregon and Anchorage, Alaska on May 13, 2016. The restored route will be operated four days a week with Boeing 737-900s according to Airline Route.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Delta has been building up its nearby Seattle-Tacoma International Airport hub so it is not surprising this route from the Pacific Northwest to Alaska is being restored. Boeing 737-932 ER N817DN (msn 31928) taxies to the runway at SEA.

Delta Air Lines aircraft slide show:

Alaska Airlines to launch more routes from Portland

Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma) is launching daily nonstop service from its Portland, Oregon, hub to three Midwest destinations including Kansas City, Minneapolis/St. Paul and Omaha, Nebraska, starting on February 18, 2016.

The routes are in addition to new Portland – Austin, Texas service the carrier announced last month.

The daily flights will be operated by SkyWest Airlines (St. George) with 76-seat Embraer E175 jets featuring 12 seats in first class and 64 in coach, and boasting cabin dimensions on par with a 737.

Top Photo: Alaska Airlines.

Alaska Airlines aircraft slide show:

Alaska SkyWest aircraft slide show:

Route Map: Routes operated by SkyWest for Alaska Airlines:

Air Canada rouge to start Vancouver – Cancun flights

Air Canada rouge (Toronto-Pearson) will start weekly Boeing 767-300 ER service between Vancouver and Cancun on February 15, 2016 for the winter season per Airline Route.

In other news, Air Canada will make the Calgary – Portland, OR a year-round service.

Air Canada rouge aircraft slide show:

Alaska Airlines to add Portland-Austin and Eugene-San Jose flying this fall

Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma) CEO Brad Tilden announced yesterday (June 1) during a keynote speech at the JumpStart Air Service Development conference that Alaska will add new flying between Portland, Oregon, and Austin, Texas, and Eugene, Oregon, and San Jose, California, beginning November 5.

“San Jose and Austin are two of our most requested cities from our customers in the Willamette Valley,” said John Kirby, Alaska’s vice president of capacity planning. “We’re excited to add the Live Music Capital of the World to our growing list of destinations from the Rose City, and our new flight to San Jose is our first-ever nonstop from Eugene to the Bay Area. These routes will also connect key tech markets in three states.”

The Portland-Austin flight will be operated for Alaska Airlines by SkyWest Airlines (St. George, Utah), using new 76-seat Embraer 175 jets. The E175 jet features 12 seats in first class and 64 in coach, and with cabin dimensions on par with a 737. Onboard amenities include Wi-Fi Internet access, streaming inflight entertainment and 110 volt power in every first class seat. Food and beverage will include hot meals and picnic packs for purchase, in addition to Northwest microbrews and wine.

The Eugene-San Jose flight will be operated by Alaska’s sister carrier Horizon Air (Alaska Horizon), using a 76-seat Bombardier Q400 aircraft. Customers flying on flights operated by Horizon can enjoy free soft drinks and Starbucks coffee, a la cart planeside baggage service, and complimentary Northwest wine and microbrews for passengers 21 years and older.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. As planned, the pictured Bombardier DHC-8-402 (marketed as the Q400) N441QX (msn 4348) with the special University of Alaska Nanooks livery, is now operating in Alaska.

Alaska Airlines aircraft slide show:

Alaska Horizon aircraft slide show:

Alaska SkyWest aircraft slide show:

Delta to add new Hawaii service from both Seattle/Tacoma and Portland, will introduce the 717 to SEA

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) next winter is adding two additional seasonal routes from the Pacific Northwest to Hawaii. According to Airline Route, the carrier will add daily Boeing 757 service from Seattle/Tacoma to Kona (Hawaii) and Portland-Honolulu flights starting December 19, 2015.

On February 23 Delta issued this statement:

Delta Air Lines is adding service from its hub at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Kona International Airport and will increase service from select seasonal markets beginning as soon as summer 2015.

The new and increased Seattle service will operate as follows:

One daily flight to Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii beginning December 19, 2015

One additional daily flight to Palm Springs, California, for a total of two daily seasonal flights beginning December 19, 2015

One daily seasonal flight to Tucson, Arizona, which was previously Saturday service, beginning December 19, 2015

Extension of seasonal service to daily year-round service to Fairbanks and Juneau, Alaska, beginning May 15, 2015

Expanded seasonal service to Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, beginning October 3, 2015

Service to Kona will be operated with Boeing 757-200 aircraft. Fairbanks, Juneau and Puerto Vallarta will use Boeing 737-800 aircraft, while Los Cabos will use Airbus A319 aircraft. Palm Springs and Tucson service will be operated by Delta Connection carrier SkyWest Airlines using two-class, 65-seat Bombardier CRJ700 aircraft.

Additionally, Delta will introduce Boeing 717 aircraft on some existing routes between Seattle/Tacoma and Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Phoenix starting on September 1.

As Seattle’s global airline, Delta offers customers access to a worldwide network of destinations throughout Asia, Europe and the U.S. with 85 peak-day departures to 31 destinations from Seattle. By summer, the airline will operate 126 flights to 35 destinations from its West Coast hub.

Delta will serve Seattle’s top 15 destinations in the Western U.S. when recently announced service to Boise, Idaho; Denver; and Sacramento, Calif., launches this spring. Ketchikan and Sitka, Alaska, service will also launch in May, completing the top five destinations in Alaska.

During the summer, Delta offers 10 long-haul international flights from Seattle/Tacoma, providing as much long-haul international service from Seattle/Tacoma as all other airlines combined. This includes the top five destinations in Asia and three of the top four destinations in Europe. Delta is the only carrier to offer nonstop service from Seattle/Tacoma to Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Paris, Shanghai and Tokyo-Haneda.

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. Ex-Northwest Boeing 757-251 N549US (msn 26496) completes its final approach into Washington’s Reagan National Airport (DCA).

Delta Air Lines aircraft slide show (current livery):

A scorpion bites a woman on an Alaska Airlines flight

Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma) flight from Los Angeles to Portland, Oregon returned yesterday (February 14) to LAX after a woman passenger reported she was stung in the arm by a scorpion (is a movie next?). The flight returned safely and the passenger was given medical attention according to this report by CNN. The flight originated in Los Cabos, Mexico.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Alaska Airlines aircraft slide show:

#scorpionsonplane

Delta to bring the Boeing 717 to the West Coast, will resume Atlanta-Honolulu Boeing 747-400 flights

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) is bringing its leased Boeing 717-200s to the U.S. West Coast on four routes. Los Angeles-Las Vegas, Los Angeles-Portland, Oregon, Salt Lake City-Kansas City and Salt Lake City-Las Vegas will be changed to Boeing 717-200 equipment starting on June 4 per Airline Route.

In other news, Delta is bringing back the Boeing 747-400 on the Atlanta-Honolulu route starting on May 1.

Copyright Photo: Gilbert Hechema/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 717-231 N927AT (msn 55077) departs from Montreal (Trudeau).

Delta Air Lines aircraft slide (current livery):

JetBlue Airways announces new routes from Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood, Cleveland, Detroit and Portland, OR

JetBlue Airways (New York) announced additional service from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), where it is the largest airline. Nonstop flights to both Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) will begin on April 30, 2015. The announcement comes on top of the seven nonstop routes launched by JetBlue from its South Florida focus city last year. JetBlue currently offers up to 74 daily flights to 33 destinations from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood and its plan is to grow to 100 daily flights by 2017 to meet the increasing customer demand in South Florida for JetBlue’s high-quality experience.

The airline added Detroit to its route map in March 2014, with nonstop service from its Boston focus city, and Cleveland will become JetBlue’s 88th destination on April 30, also with flights from Boston.

In other news, JetBlue Airways also announced additional service at Portland International Airport (PDX) in Oregon, with new nonstop service to Anchorage, Alaska’s Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) for the upcoming summer season.

The new route will operate daily between June 18 and September 8, 2015, and will be JetBlue’s fourth nonstop destination from Portland, where the airline offers flights to Boston, New York/JFK and Long Beach, Calif. in the Los Angeles area. From Anchorage, JetBlue offers nonstop summer seasonal service to Long Beach and Seattle/Tacoma.

The new routes will be operated by a 150-seat Airbus A320s.

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-232 N565JB (msn 2031) in the new Tartan tail design prepares to depart from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

JetBlue Airways aircraft slide show:

Alaska Airlines to expand its relationship with SkyWest Airlines with new Embraer 175s and three new cities

Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma) announced today it is expanding its partnership with SkyWest Airlines (St. George, Utah) with the addition of three new destinations from Alaska’s Northwest hubs. Flying on new Embraer ERJ 175 jets (a new type in Alaska colors), Alaska will begin offering daily nonstop service starting on July 1, 2015 between Seattle/Tacoma and Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Seattle/Tacoma and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and Portland, Oregon and St. Louis.

The 76-seat E175 jet will feature 12 seats in first class and 64 in coach, and boasts cabin dimensions on par with a Boeing 737. Onboard amenities include Wi-Fi Internet access, streaming inflight entertainment and 110 volt power in every first class seat. Food and beverage will include hot meals and picnic packs for purchase, in addition to Northwest microbrews and wine.

SkyWest has purchased seven Embraer E175 aircraft to fly on behalf of Alaska under a capacity purchase agreement (CPA). The first three aircraft will arrive in the summer of 2015, and the remaining four will be delivered in the first quarter of 2016.

SkyWest operates for Alaska Airlines as Alaska SkyWest.

“The E175 is new for the Alaska brand and fills a specific need to serve ‘long, thin routes’ – destinations that are too distant for our regional aircraft, but currently don’t have enough customer demand to fill a mainline jet,” said Andrew Harrison, senior vice president of planning and revenue management for Alaska Airlines. “The smaller, but spacious, E175 jet will not only open up new cities, but provide feed traffic to our Northwest hubs, while giving customers a comfortable experience on these longer flights.”

Today, SkyWest flies 40 flights a day between 14 cities for Alaska Airlines and by August 2016, that will increase to 52 flights a day to 17 cities.

Alaska Airlines has been growing its Seattle/Tacoma hub, this year launching service to six new cities which include Albuquerque, Baltimore/Washington, Cancun, Detroit, New Orleans and Tampa. With the addition of these new SkyWest-operated flights, next summer Alaska will offer 298 peak-day departures to 81 destinations from Seattle/Tacoma – three times any other carrier. From Portland, starting in July Alaska Airlines will offer 125 peak-day departures to 44 destinations – more than any other carrier.

In related news, SkyWest confirmed its order for seven Embraer 175s with this announcement:

SkyWest, Inc. and Embraer have confirmed a firm order for seven E175 jets. The aircraft will be flown by SkyWest Airlines under a Capacity Purchase Agreement (CPA) with Alaska Airlines. The value of the firm order, which will be included in Embraer’s 2014 fourth-quarter backlog, is estimated at $301 million, based on 2014 list prices.

These aircraft are part of SkyWest’s previous order for 100 (40 firm and 60 reconfirmable), E175 current generation E-Jets – with an additional 100 options – placed in May 2013, taking the firm order number to a total of 47. The E175s for Alaska Airlines will be configured with 76 seats including 12 First Class seats. Deliveries are schedule to begin in the second semester of 2015.

SkyWest Airlines operates a fleet of approximately 15 E175 and 39 EMB 120 Brasilia aircraft. ExpressJet Airlines operates 226 aircraft of the ERJ 145 family and is the largest ERJ operator in the world.

In a separate deal with Embraer, announced in June of 2013, SkyWest became the launch customer of the E175-E2, ordering 100 aircraft with 100 additional options, for deliveries beginning in 2020.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. SkyWest Airlines currently operates 10 Bombardier CRJ900s (CL-600-2C10s) including the pictured N223AG (msn 10010) arriving at Long Beach.

Alaska Airlines aircraft slide show: