Alaska grows Paine Field seats 50%, adding San Jose and more Los Angeles and Portland flights

Alaska Airlines plans to grow its seats at Seattle/Everett, also known as Paine Field (PAE), by 50%. The growth starts this fall and runs through summer 2027, the airline said in its Sept. 24 announcement.

The plan adds one new nonstop route, to San Jose, California. It also adds flights or seats on four routes Alaska already flies from Paine Field: Los Angeles, Portland, San Diego and San Francisco.

What's new at Paine Field

The headline addition is a new nonstop between Paine Field and San Jose (SJC). Horizon Air, Alaska's sister airline, will fly it twice a day on Embraer 175 jets. The first flight is planned for April 14, 2027. Alaska says tickets are on sale now at alaskaair.com.

Alaska is also adding flying on familiar routes:

• Los Angeles (LAX): grows to twice daily. Both flights will use larger Alaska Boeing 737 aircraft.
• Portland (PDX): grows to two daily flights.
• San Diego (SAN): more seats.
• San Francisco (SFO): more seats.

The release gives a start date only for San Jose. It does not say when the Los Angeles and Portland changes begin, or how many seats San Diego and San Francisco will gain. It says only that the overall growth begins this fall and builds through summer 2027.

| Route | Start date | Frequency | Aircraft | |---|---|---|---| | Seattle/Everett (PAE) – San Jose (SJC) | April 14, 2027 | 2x daily | Embraer 175 | | Seattle/Everett (PAE) – Los Angeles (LAX) | Not stated | 2x daily | Boeing 737 | | Seattle/Everett (PAE) – Portland (PDX) | Not stated | 2x daily | Not stated | | Seattle/Everett (PAE) – San Diego (SAN) | Not stated | More seats | Not stated | | Seattle/Everett (PAE) – San Francisco (SFO) | Not stated | More seats | Not stated |

The switch to 737s on Los Angeles means more seats per flight than the Embraer 175 regional jets Horizon flies. The release does not say which 737 variant will fly the route.

Why Alaska is growing in Everett

Alaska describes Paine Field as a part of its Puget Sound network that works alongside its main Seattle hub. The airline says the added flights give it more depth in the Seattle market. It also says they give travelers in Snohomish County, North Seattle and nearby areas more choices close to home.

Andrew Harrison, Alaska's chief commercial officer, called Paine Field a simpler and more convenient way to reach the airline's West Coast flights.

Brett Smith is the chief executive of Propeller Airports, the company behind the Paine Field passenger terminal. He said there is strong demand for more service from the airport. He pointed to its valet parking, security process and what he called a "lounge-like setting" in the terminal.

Lounges at Paine Field and Sea-Tac

Lounge Frog lists no lounges at Paine Field (PAE), and the airport is not yet in our directory. The release does not mention any lounge there either, so travelers flying from Everett should expect to wait in the main terminal. Smith's description of a "lounge-like setting" refers to the terminal itself, not a members' lounge.

Travelers who connect through or start at Seattle-Tacoma (SEA) have many more choices. Lounge Frog lists 12 lounges there.

Alaska's own lounges. Alaska runs three lounges at Sea-Tac. All three are open to Alaska Lounge members and to eligible oneworld travelers, according to our listings. Each has a full bar.

• Alaska Lounge (N) is the top-rated of the three on Lounge Frog, at 4.7 out of 5. It is also the only one listed with showers (two). It sits on the mezzanine of the North Satellite above gates N13 to N18 and opens 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Our listing shows members with up to two guests, and day passes at $65 when space allows, with a same-day Alaska, American or oneworld ticket.
• Alaska Lounge (C) rates 4.3.
• Alaska Lounge (D) rates 4.1.

Other lounges at Sea-Tac. These are the other options in our data, with how they are accessed:

• The Centurion Lounge: Centurion access, rated 4.6.
• The Club SEA and The Club SEA (S): Priority Pass, LoungeKey and The Club, rated 4.2 and 4.5. The Club SEA also lists DragonPass.
• British Airways Terraces Lounge: British Airways and oneworld access, rated 4.3.
• Delta Sky Club (A), Delta Sky Club (A11) and Delta Sky Club (S): Delta Sky Club and SkyTeam access, rated 4.8, 3.8 and 4.7.
• Delta One Lounge: rated 4.7. Our listing shows no membership program for it.
• United Club: United Club and Star Alliance access, rated 4.2.

The new Paine Field flights are nonstops to West Coast cities and do not route through Sea-Tac. For travelers choosing between the two airports, the trade-off is clear. Paine Field may be closer to home, while Sea-Tac is where the lounges are. Sea-Tac is also where Alaska plans its biggest lounge yet, a 41,000-square-foot space on the C Concourse due in late 2027. See our story on Alaska's Aurora and Hawaiian's Leihōkū plans.

What we don't know yet

Alaska has not said when the added Los Angeles and Portland flights start. It has not given schedules for any of the new flights. It also has not said whether it plans any lounge or premium space at Paine Field. We will update this story if Alaska shares more details. See more on our Sea-Tac airport page.