Alaska Airlines Grows Paine Field by 50%: Why Everett Matters
By The Aviation Hub
5 min read
Updated September 30, 2026 
Alaska Airlines is making a significant bet on Seattle’s second airport.
The carrier will increase seats at Paine Field in Everett by 50% between this autumn and summer 2027, adding a new route to San Jose and larger aircraft on key West Coast services.
The announcement, made in an Alaska Airlines press release on 24 September, may look modest next to transatlantic or transpacific headlines.
However, it tells us a great deal about how the airline is thinking about its home market.
What Alaska Airlines Is Adding
The headline addition is a new nonstop service between Paine Field and San Jose.
According to the Lynnwood Times, the route will launch on 14 April 2027 and operate twice daily.
Horizon Air, the regional subsidiary of Alaska Air Group, will fly the route with 76 seat Embraer E175 jets.
The service gives north Puget Sound travellers a direct link to Silicon Valley and the South Bay.
The bigger capacity gain comes from existing routes.
Los Angeles will move from one daily flight to two, with both operated by Boeing 737 aircraft rather than a mix that includes regional jets.
Portland will also grow to twice daily.
Alaska Airlines will add seats on its San Diego and San Francisco routes, and the Lynnwood Times notes schedule data showing the San Diego flight switching to a 737 in November.
Why Paine Field Matters to Alaska Airlines
Paine Field sits north of Seattle in Snohomish County.
For travellers living north of the city, reaching Seattle Tacoma International can mean a long drive through or around Seattle traffic.
Travel Gumbo explains that flights from Everett save these passengers a long trip to the main hub. That convenience is the entire value proposition of the airport.
The terminal is also small, modern and operated privately by Propeller Airports.
Its chief executive, Brett Smith, said in the Alaska press release that the new flights reflect strong demand for more convenient air service close to home.
Alaska Airlines chief commercial officer Andrew Harrison described Paine Field as an important part of the airline’s Puget Sound network.
Runway Girl Network says the growth is driven by what the airline sees as strong demand from the facility.
A Market Alaska Now Has to Itself
The competitive history at Paine Field is important.
When commercial service resumed in 2019, Alaska, United and Southwest all planned to fly there.
Travel Gumbo notes that Southwest changed its plans and United left during the pandemic.
That left Alaska Airlines as the primary commercial operator at the airport.
This gives the airline an unusual position.
It can grow capacity in a catchment of affluent north Seattle suburbs without facing direct competition from another major carrier at the same terminal.
It also strengthens its defensive position.
Any rival wanting to challenge Alaska in the Seattle market now faces an incumbent that controls both the main hub at SeaTac and the most convenient alternative airport.
The Upgauge Strategy
One of the most interesting elements is the shift to larger aircraft.
Moving Los Angeles and San Diego to the 737 increases seats per departure significantly compared with the 76 seat E175.
Upgauging is one of the most efficient ways for an airline to grow.
It adds capacity without needing extra slots, extra crews for additional sectors or extra gate time, and it lowers the cost per seat.
At a constrained terminal like Paine Field, where gate space is limited, larger aircraft are a practical way to grow without overwhelming the facility.
The approach mirrors a wider trend across US airlines.
Many carriers are moving capacity away from smaller regional jets towards mainline narrowbodies where demand supports it.
San Jose and the Tech Corridor
The San Jose route is a logical addition.
The Puget Sound region and Silicon Valley share deep business ties through the technology sector.
Twice daily frequency, rather than a single flight, suggests Alaska Airlines sees this as a business route rather than a leisure service.
Morning and evening timings allow day trips, which are highly valued by corporate travellers.
Using Horizon’s E175 on the route makes sense at launch.
It keeps risk low while the market develops, and the aircraft offers a comfortable two by two cabin with a first class section.
Where This Fits in the Wider Alaska Air Group Strategy
The Paine Field expansion arrives at a busy time for Alaska Air Group.
The company is integrating Hawaiian Airlines and building out a long haul network from Seattle.
According to the Spokesman Review, Alaska made a separate announcement on the same day about its long haul expansion.
The Paine Field news shows the airline is not neglecting its short haul foundations while it grows internationally.
A strong Puget Sound base is essential to that international strategy.
Every passenger who chooses Alaska Airlines for domestic trips is a potential customer for its growing long haul network from Seattle.
The press release describes the move as part of a wider strategy to reinforce Alaska’s position as the leading carrier on the West Coast.
Paine Field is one piece of that puzzle.
What Remains to Be Seen
There are open questions.
Local communities near the airport were initially opposed to commercial service, and Travel Gumbo notes that some areas are now hoping for routes beyond the West Coast.
Any move towards destinations such as Denver, Phoenix or Las Vegas would signal a further step up in Alaska’s ambitions for Everett. For now, the network remains entirely West Coast.
The airport’s physical capacity is another constraint.
The terminal has a small number of gates, which limits how far any airline can grow there without further investment.
There is also the question of competition returning.
A 50% jump in seats demonstrates that demand exists, and that could encourage another carrier to look again at Everett.
If that happens, Alaska’s early investment in frequency and larger aircraft would leave it well placed to defend its position.
A Smart, Low Risk Move
For Alaska Airlines, the Paine Field expansion is a low risk, high value decision.
It rewards loyal north Seattle customers, protects an uncontested catchment and uses upgauging to grow efficiently.
It also reminds us that network strategy is not only about headline international routes.
Sometimes the most profitable growth comes from making it easier for existing customers to fly from closer to home.
Readers can explore the Alaska Airlines fleet, including its 737 and E175 aircraft, using our Airline Search and Aircraft Search tools.
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