Alaska Airlines Adds New Wine Country Routes, Revives LGB–Seattle

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Alaska Airlines is sharpening its focus on California travelers, unveiling new nonstop routes from Santa Rosa’s Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport and restoring its Long Beach to Seattle connection in a 2026 schedule shake-up aimed at leisure and business flyers alike.

New Nonstops Put Santa Rosa on More West Coast Maps

Publicly available information shows that Alaska Airlines is preparing a significant expansion at Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa, with several new nonstop routes scheduled to launch in late 2026. Reports indicate that the carrier plans to begin seasonal service to Phoenix, Salt Lake City and Boise on November 1, 2026, adding fresh connectivity from Wine Country to three key Mountain West hubs.

Coverage of the announcement notes that these services are expected to operate as seasonal routes aligned with peak travel periods, particularly the fall and winter months when both sun destinations and ski markets see strong demand. By timing the launch ahead of the winter holidays, Alaska Airlines appears to be targeting both leisure travelers heading for desert sunshine and those connecting on to mountain resorts in Utah and Idaho.

The new flights will build on an already growing Santa Rosa network that includes links to major West Coast cities such as Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles area airports and Las Vegas. Industry analysis suggests the additions will bring Alaska’s total number of nonstop destinations from Santa Rosa to around a dozen, underscoring the carrier’s role as the leading airline at the regional airport.

According to aviation-focused reporting, Alaska’s Santa Rosa flights are scheduled to be operated primarily by Embraer 175 regional jets, offering dual-class cabins and Wi-Fi. This equipment choice allows the airline to match capacity with demand on routes that serve a mix of local residents, Bay Area travelers and visitors drawn to Sonoma County’s wine, food and outdoor attractions.

Long Beach–Seattle Returns After a Decade

On the Southern California coast, Long Beach Airport is set to welcome Alaska Airlines back after roughly ten years away. Company publications and aviation news outlets state that the carrier will resume nonstop Long Beach–Seattle service on September 8, 2026, with two daily year-round flights linking the compact coastal airport to Alaska’s primary hub in the Pacific Northwest.

Scheduling data published by route-tracking services shows the Long Beach–Seattle flights planned with Boeing 737 aircraft, offering higher capacity and full mainline amenities. The twice-daily pattern is structured to support both same-day business trips and longer leisure stays, with morning and afternoon departures in each direction.

The move is strategically notable because, according to airline network coverage, the addition of Long Beach will make Alaska the only carrier offering nonstop Seattle service from all five major Los Angeles Basin airports. That collection includes Los Angeles International, Burbank, Ontario, Orange County and Long Beach, reinforcing the airline’s competitive stance in the broader Southern California market.

Travel industry observers view the Long Beach return as part of a broader effort by Alaska Airlines to deepen its presence in medium-size West Coast airports that appeal to travelers seeking shorter lines and easier access than larger hubs. Long Beach’s relaxed terminal environment and proximity to coastal communities in Los Angeles County are expected to be key selling points for the revived route.

What Travelers Can Expect Onboard and On the Ground

Publicly available fleet information indicates that Alaska Airlines will use a mix of Embraer 175 regional jets and Boeing 737 mainline aircraft for the new and restored services. Passengers on the Santa Rosa routes can expect the E175, which features a first class cabin, premium class seating with extra legroom and standard economy seats, along with power outlets and onboard Wi-Fi on most flights.

For the Long Beach–Seattle route, current fleet data and corporate communications point to Boeing 737 aircraft equipped with updated cabins. Throughout 2026, the airline is in the process of enhancing many of its mainline jets with improved seating configurations and expanded high-speed Wi-Fi availability, including service powered by satellite technology. These upgrades are designed to support streaming, remote work and in-flight messaging for travelers moving between Southern California and the Pacific Northwest.

At the airport level, travelers using Santa Rosa can expect a smaller, easier-to-navigate facility that has been positioning itself as a convenient alternative to larger Bay Area airports. Reports from local coverage highlight short walking distances, relatively quick security checkpoints and easy access to nearby wine country destinations. Long Beach Airport offers a similarly compact layout, outdoor concourse areas and a scaled-back terminal experience that contrasts with the busier scenes at Los Angeles International.

For connecting travelers, the Seattle hub remains central to Alaska’s strategy. The restored Long Beach flights are expected to plug directly into onward connections across Alaska’s domestic network and to select international partners. According to airline route summaries, popular onward destinations from Seattle include Alaska, Hawaii, the Mountain West and key cities in the Midwest and East Coast, giving Long Beach passengers a wide range of one-stop itinerary options.

Planning Your Next Trip: Dates, Booking and Trip Ideas

Travelers interested in these new options will need to keep an eye on timing. The Long Beach–Seattle route is set to begin on September 8, 2026, with two daily flights in each direction listed as year-round service in published schedules. The expanded Santa Rosa network, including new flights to Phoenix, Salt Lake City and Boise, is targeted to launch on November 1, 2026, on a seasonal basis that lines up with fall and winter travel demand.

Booking for many 2026 routes typically opens well in advance, and fare search tools already show sample dates and indicative pricing for the Long Beach–Seattle connection in the early fall. Travelers planning wine country getaways or ski trips that combine Sonoma County with mountain destinations may benefit from monitoring fare trends and schedules as the seasonal Santa Rosa services are loaded more fully into booking systems.

These changes open up a range of trip ideas. One example is a wine country and desert escape pairing, with an arrival into Santa Rosa for vineyard touring, followed by a quick nonstop hop to Phoenix for golf and sunshine. Another is a coastal and mountain combination that uses Long Beach–Seattle for Pacific Northwest city time, combined with onward flights from Seattle to Alaska or the Rockies.

Reports tracking West Coast aviation trends suggest that competition remains intense among carriers in California and the Pacific Northwest, which can create opportunities for travelers in the form of competitive fares and added frequencies. Alaska Airlines’ decision to reinforce Santa Rosa and Long Beach within its network points to continued investment in secondary airports that offer easier access and a more relaxed experience, while still linking into a broad web of domestic and international connections.