Alaska Airlines will add 50% more seats at Paine Field and launch a new nonstop route to San Jose, the airline announced Thursday, Sept. 24.

The capacity increase begins in fall 2026 and runs through summer 2027. Twice-daily nonstop flights between Paine Field and San Jose Mineta International Airport start April 14, 2027, operated year-round by Horizon Air on 76-seat Embraer E175 jets.

San Jose makes 10 nonstop destinations from the Everett airport.

The expansion also means bigger planes and more flights on existing routes. Los Angeles service will double to twice daily, with both flights switching from the 76-seat E175 to Alaska's Boeing 737, which carries between 161 and 178 passengers depending on the variant, the Seattle Times reported. Portland service doubles from one daily flight to two. Alaska will also add seats on its San Diego and San Francisco routes, with the Lynnwood Times reporting the San Diego flight switches to a 737 in November.

Andrew Harrison, Alaska Airlines' executive vice president and chief commercial officer, called Paine Field "an important part of our Puget Sound network" and said the airline is adding seats and frequency for travelers in Snohomish County and North Seattle.

Brett Smith, CEO of Propeller Airports, which operates the Paine Field passenger terminal, said more travelers want to fly out of Paine Field rather than drive to Sea-Tac, and the added flights answer that demand.

The growth comes after Frontier Airlines exited Paine Field in January 2026, ending low-cost service to Denver, Las Vegas and Phoenix. Alaska is now the sole commercial carrier at the airport.

Paine Field's current year-round nonstop network covers Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Orange County, Phoenix, Portland, San Diego and San Francisco, with seasonal service to Honolulu and Palm Springs.

Tickets for the new San Jose route are on sale. The first flights depart April 14, 2027.