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This photo provided by Alaska Airlines shows an Embraer E175 of Horizon Air affiliate at Paine Field in Everett, Washington. (Photo: Alaska Airlines)
There will be Paine Field in Everett, Washington, by mid-February.
Though Paine Field is home to Boeing's widebody and has some general aviation flights, it has been decades since the airport last had regular commercial passenger service.
But two airlines – Alaska Airlines and United – announced plans last year. Southwest became the third to say it would fly to Paine Field earlier this year, but the low-cost giant said Thursday it had changed its mind.
With that change of heart by Southwest, Alaska has expanded its plans for Paine Field to 18 flights, up from the 13 it's planned. Alaska's Everett Destinations will be Las Vegas; Los Angeles; Orange County, California; Phoenix; Portland, Oregon; San Diego; San Francisco; and San Jose, California.
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Alaska Airlines frequent-flyers can register to earn double miles on Paine Fields. March 31. Alaska flights from Everett will be on 76-seat Embraer E175 jets operated regional affiliate Horizon Air.
"We're tremendously honored to be part of this historic event," said Andrew Harrison, Alaska Airlines chief commercial officer, said in a statement. "Providing all our services from Paine Field and further expanding our guests, including from our Global Partners' major international hubs, highlights the strong growth in our region and West Coast thriving."
Brett Smith, CEO of Propeller Airports, said, "The Alaska Airlines' schedule announcement.
"Alaska Airlines Flew from Paine Field back in the 1940s and 50s." We're excited to have Everett, "Smith said in the airline's statement. "We're ready to join with Alaska to provide terrific service to our guests."
United, which announced its intentions last year, has not yet revealed a start date for its planned service. In that announcement, the United States would have hoped for a break in the fall of 2019 with a schedule of six daily flights that would split between its Denver and San Francisco hubs.
The move to Everett is part of an effort to turn it into a Seattle-based Seattle, where the fast-growing Seattle-Tacoma International region has set numerous passenger records in recent years.
Everett flights will have the greatest appeal to those living north of Seattle. The Sea-Tac airport is about 15 miles south of downtown and is coming north of south arteries.
Paine Field, however, sits about 25 miles north of Seattle. Traffic to the airport of Seattle has historically been less-prone to congestion.
Alaska Airlines is headquartered in Seattle and operates its busiest hub at Sea-Tac, where it is the busiest carrier.
But, in its Everett Announcement, Alaska touted Paine Field as a new option for its already-large customer base in greater Seattle.
"More than one million travelers who will live north of Seattle will have shorter cuts to Paine Field instead of heading south to Sea-Tac Airport," Alaska Airlines said.
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