Delta Air Lines drops 2 Alaska cities as turf battles persist with Alaska Airlines
Travel options to Alaska are shifting a bit this summer.
Delta Air Lines, which has long been the second-largest carrier to the state, is pulling out of two small communities in the southeastern panhandle. Meanwhile, the state’s namesake airline — and Delta's chief rival in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest — is adding new nonstop options to the Lower 48 states.
SkyTeam alliance member Delta will not resume seasonal summer service to either Ketchikan International Airport (KTN) or Sitka Rocky Gutierrez Airport (SIT), an airline spokesperson confirmed. Delta has served both cities continuously from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) since 2015.
The move comes as Delta ups its offerings to Alaska’s two busiest airports — Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) and Fairbanks International Airport (FAI) — for the peak summer months. Overall, the airline will offer 4% more seats to the state in the second quarter compared to last year, schedule data from aviation analytics firm Cirium Diio shows.
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Delta's growth includes a new seasonal nonstop between Anchorage and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Saturdays from May 24 to Aug. 30.
This move comes as Delta’s main competitor in the state, Alaska Airlines, adds new flights and nonstop routes. The Oneworld alliance carrier will connect ANC to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) — a major hub for Delta — and Sacramento International Airport (SMF) on Saturdays this summer; it will also connect FAI to Oregon's Portland International Airport (PDX) daily.
Alaska Airlines continues to serve both Ketchikan and Sitka year-round, a spokesperson for the airline said.
Even with the new routes, Alaska Airlines’ seats to the state will be down nearly 3% year over year in the second quarter, schedule data from Cirium Diio shows. This includes Hawaiian Airlines' plan to fly an Airbus A330-200 between Seattle and Anchorage this summer.
“We are really excited,” Shannon McCarthy, the communications director at the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, said about the new routes.
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Hailey Standish, who manages communications for the Fairbanks airport, said that the new Alaska Airlines route not only links Fairbanks to Portland, Oregon, but, thanks to the airline's growing hub in Oregon, to destinations across the Lower 48 states. The Fairbanks airport hopes that the route could extend from summer seasonal to year-round status in the future, she added.
There is plenty for Alaska visitors to explore with the new flights. They could ride the Alaska Railroad to Denali National Park and Preserve, kayak along the state’s scenic coastline or take a helicopter tour of its many glaciers.
The give and take between Alaska Airlines and Delta to the state is not new. The airlines have held the first and second spots for airline seats to and from the state since 2010, Cirium Diio schedules show.
And over the past decade, four out of every five airline passengers to Alaska flew on either Alaska Airlines or Delta.
That near duopoly dates back to at least 1987 when Delta merged with Western Airlines, Alaska Airlines’ then-largest competitor between its namesake state and the Lower 48 states. Only during a brief period in the 2000s did Delta fall out of the No. 2 spot.
Looking ahead, it seems unlikely that Alaska Airlines will cede the top spot to Delta. It still flies four times as many seats to and from the state than its competitor does, even with its schedule down slightly this summer.
A spokesperson for Alaska Airlines declined to comment on Delta's schedule adjustments but said that serving the state of Alaska is very important to the carrier.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.