Alaska Airlines has announced it will add two new nonstop routes from smaller mainland cities to Hawaii, while simultaneously discontinuing its service to New Zealand.
The airline will launch flights from both Bozeman, Montana, and Spokane, Washington to Honolulu as part of a strategy to connect Hawaii with communities that have traditionally lacked direct access. The Bozeman route will operate three times weekly, while the Spokane flights will run daily. Both services are scheduled to begin in late fall.
Alaska cited strong demand for Hawaii travel from these regions and noted the routes would be served by Boeing 737-800 aircraft configured with first-class and economy seating.
Conversely, the carrier will end its seasonal service between Seattle and Auckland, New Zealand, citing underperformance. The last flight will operate in March. Alaska entered the New Zealand market only last year, marking its first foray into the South Pacific after its acquisition by Hawaiian Airlines' parent company.
The network adjustments come as Alaska continues to integrate with Hawaiian Airlines, leveraging Hawaiian's expertise in Pacific operations. The airline said it remains focused on strengthening its West Coast and Hawaii networks while pruning underperforming long-haul routes.