Alaska Airlines begins nonstop service from Seattle to Miami and Cleveland
Alaska Airlines is expanding its route map with new, transcontinental service from its hub in Seattle and expanded regional options out west.
The Seattle-based carrier began a new service last week from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Miami International Airport (MIA) and Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE). The airline did not previously have service to either airport. Alaska Airlines will operate these routes daily, going forward.
Alaska Airlines also beefed up some of its regional service out west by adding nonstop flights to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) and Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) from Boise Airport (BOI).
The expanded options come even as Alaska Airlines has encountered many of the operational challenges faced by airlines across the board — challenges that led the airline to scale back its schedule on multiple occasions during the earlier months of 2022.
Airline officials see this as a way to serve surging travel demand from passengers after two-plus years of the pandemic.
"[This is] another indication that so many of us are ready to get out and go places," Brett Catlin, vice president of network and alliances, said Friday.
Checking booking options for later this summer, I found a round-trip flight in mid-August aboard the new, nonstop Alaska flight to Miami and then back to Seattle for $487. The eastbound trip lasts more than six hours, with the return trip taking nearly seven hours. It's a long intracontinental flight and a reminder of just how far apart Seattle and Miami are – 2,720 flight miles.
The trip is aboard an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
Miami airport officials pointed out that Alaska Airlines served the city a decade ago. However, with this latest expansion, it marks Alaska's 100th destination from Seattle. The carrier already had service to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL).
For travelers looking to take advantage of the new, nonstop service to Cleveland, I found a September round-trip flight for $518 aboard the Alaska Boeing 737-900.
This marks the third Ohio city served by Alaska Airlines, with John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) and Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) already having nonstop Seattle service.