Alaska Airlines Grows Its Boise Portfolio Even More

On Thursday, Alaska Airlines inaugurated two new daily nonstop services from Boise, Idaho’s capital. Alaska Airlines has even more planned, announcing two more new nonstop flights scheduled to start this fall. The airline’s focus continues to be on growing its Western US presence.

Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines is continuing to grow in Boise. Photo: Getty Images

Alaska Airlines starts two new routes out of Boise

Alaska Airlines has inaugurated daily nonstop services from Boise Airport (BOI) to Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS). The two routes have come just in time for summer.

Chicago O’Hare is a major hub for American Airlines, and American also has plans to fly the route. Alaska Airlines flights complement American’s and provide more options for travelers looking to get from Boise to Chicago and the rest of the world. Alaska is using an Embraer E175 on the route.

As for Austin, Alaska Airlines has a monopoly on the route, which also flies with an Embraer E175. Austin is a growing focus city for American Airlines, so Alaska can tap into some of American’s marketing power in the city thanks to the two carrier’s West Coast alliance.

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Alaska has used the E175 to launch new services out of Boise. Photo: Getty Images

Adding two new flights

This fall, Alaska Airlines is adding a new route from Boise to Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport (PUW) and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX).

Flights to PUW will run five times per week on a Q400 turboprop. The aircraft will depart BOI at 11:10 and arrive in PUW at 11:15. The return flight leaves PUW at 11:55 and arrives at 13:34 in BOI. All times are local. Flights will start on August 17th.

Flights from BOI to PHX will depart at 10:30 and arrive at 12:30. The return flight will depart PHX at 13:10 and arrive in BOI at 16:15. All times are local. This flight will run daily with an Embraer E175. Flights will start on November 19th and are set to end for now on April 18th.

Brett Catlin, vice president of network and alliances at Alaska Airlines, stated the following on the airline’s Boise expansion:

“Our guests are showing us how excited they are about our new service to Chicago and Austin from Boise with strong bookings throughout the summer months. Our new year-round route bridging Boise and PullmanMoscow will offer a crucial link to that area’s two major universities, and the seasonal nonstop to Phoenix is another terrific way to quickly escape to sunshine and warmth in the desert this winter.”

Alaska New Routes
Alaska will have an expansive route network out of Boise. Photo: Alaska Airlines

The flight to Pullman is made possible with an agreement between Alaska Airlines and the University of Idaho. The University announced the agreement, paying up to $500,000 each year if Alaska does not make 10% more than the cost of operations on the service. This helps connect the University in Moscow, Idaho, to Boise and the rest of the world.

Meanwhile, the route to Phoenix is similar in strategy to the Chicago O’Hare service. This is a major hub for American Airlines, and American already operates flights on the route. Alaska will complement American’s flight times and allow for more connections.

Building out in Boise

Come this winter, Alaska Airlines will fly up to 30 daily nonstop departures out of Boise to 14 destinations. The airline will have more daily departures to more nonstop destinations out of Boise than any other airline. This sets up the airline to continue to do well in the western US.

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The new route to PUW will run on a Q400. Photo: Getty Images

Boise is the kind of market that is ripe for Alaska Airlines’ expansion. It is a growing city with passengers who want to go to many points across the US and where many Americans want to visit. Much of Alaska’s flying, such as to San Jose, Palm Springs, San Diego, Spokane, Pullman, Austin, and soon Everett, among others, are mostly point-to-point services.

The city is also not picking up the keen interest of major US airlines, leaving Alaska Airlines as one of the fastest-growing and dynamic airlines in the city. There are still plenty of options for Alaska Airlines to grow in the future as demand warrants.

Are you glad to see Alaska Airlines add more flying in Boise? Let us know in the comments!



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