Seattle, December 19, 2025 – For travelers across the greater Puget Sound region, a highly requested connection is finally being restored.

Propeller Airports announced that Alaska Airlines will resume nonstop service between Seattle Paine Field International Airport (PAE) and Portland International Airport (PDX), starting June 2026.

After a hiatus, this daily route is set to inject much-needed convenience back into Pacific Northwest air travel.

This isn’t just about getting from Everett to Portland. The relaunched daily service will offer seamless connections into Alaska’s broader network, effectively linking Snohomish County to a vast array of destinations.

Think quick hops to Houston, Nashville, Orlando, Dallas, Bozeman, Spokane, and Austin, all without the trek to Sea-Tac. For regional travelers, this could be a genuine game-changer, but one has to wonder why such a critical route was ever removed in the first place.

Brett Smith, CEO of Propeller Airports—the company owning and operating the commercial terminal at PAE—expressed enthusiasm, stating, “Guests have been asking for this route to return, and we’re excited that our customers will have a fast, easy, and reliable option.”

Joshua Marcy, Airport Director at Paine Field, echoed this, calling it “great news for our community and great news for the region.” Propeller Airports, based in Everett, Washington, focuses on maximizing airport assets for commercial air travel, often working with local communities. This re-establishes a vital link between two of the Pacific Northwest’s most significant economic and cultural hubs.

Alaska Airlines, a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group (which also includes Hawaiian Airlines and Horizon Air), is a global airline with hubs across the West Coast, including Portland. They fly to over 140 destinations throughout North America, Latin America, Asia, and the Pacific, with Europe service beginning in spring 2026.

As a member of the oneworld alliance (with Hawaiian joining in spring 2026), their network is extensive.

For those ready to jump on this restored connection, tickets to Portland are already on sale via alaskaair.com.

The return of this route underscores the growing importance of regional airports like Paine Field. For many, the streamlined experience at PAE simply beats the congestion of larger hubs.

This restoration is more than just an airline adding a flight but it’s a direct response to consumer demand, highlighting the importance of convenience and regional connectivity.

This may indicate a broader trend: airlines are beginning to recognize that the most valuable routes are those that minimize travel time and reduce frustration for passengers.ion for passengers.