Alaska Airlines’ 2026 Route Expansion Brings More Options for Hawai‘i Flyers
Burbank, California
Alaska Airlines has just revealed a major network shake-up for 2026: 13 new and returning routes across its West Coast hubs, including two cities it’s never served before.
Because you’re reading this at Hawaii Reward Travel, I’ll break down what this means for Hawai‘i-based travelers, whether you’re flying out of or into the islands, redeeming miles, or simply tracking award seat opportunities.
What’s Changing: Routes, Hubs & Focus
Here’s a summary of the big moves:
Alaska will launch service to two entirely new U.S. cities: Tulsa, Oklahoma and Arcata‑Eureka (ACV) in Northern California between March and April 2026.
The carrier’s fastest growing West Coast hubs: San Diego International Airport (SAN) and Portland International Airport (PDX) will see the bulk of the growth.
On the flip side, Alaska is cutting back at two major West Coast hubs: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
Among the 13 routes announced, there’s also a new California ↔ Hawai‘i link: from Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), stretching Alaska’s Hawai‘i network.
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Why This Matters for Hawai‘i Travelers
1. More gateways into Hawai‘i
The new BUR → HNL route opens yet another West-Coast entry point into Hawai‘i for Alaska. That means more flexibility for interisland connections, partner redemptions, and route planning. If you’re based in Hawai‘i, this may affect how you pick positioning flights to start or end your journey.
2. Award seat opportunities & partner strategy
Since Alaska’s award chart structure remains intact, even as it switches to the new Atmos Rewards program with Hawaiian Airlines, these new routes may open up fresh redemption routes.
If you habitually use Alaska miles (or its partner network) to unlock routes to/from Hawai‘i, it’s a good idea to watch for award availability on these newly launched services.
3. Positioning flights matter more
With Alaska expanding SAN and PDX but contracting LAX and SFO, the “how do I get to/from Hawai‘i” puzzle changes slightly. Hawai‘i-based flyers might find better connections to SAN or PDX hubs instead of the traditional LAX/SFO route. That means you’ll want to build in extra flexibility or consider departing/arriving via alternative West Coast hubs.
4. Timing your bookings
Since many of the new routes launch Spring 2026 (March-April for several, May for others) this gives you a window to study how award availability opens up, what the routing options are, and how Alaska’s partner/fare dynamics shape up. It’s a great time to set calendar reminders, watch for seat drops, and have your “Hawai‘i trip” plan ready.
Table of New & Returning Routes
| Origin | Destination | Launch Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAN | DFW | April 22 | Twice daily |
| SAN | OAK | April 22 | Four times daily |
| SAN | RDU | April 22 | Daily, new transcontinental |
| SAN | SBA | April 22 | Twice daily |
| SAN | TUL | March 18 | Daily, new city |
| PDX | BWI | May 13 | Daily (summer), returning |
| PDX | IDA | May 13 | Daily (summer) |
| PDX | PHL | May 13 | Daily (summer), returning |
| PDX | STL | May 13 | Daily (summer), returning |
| SEA | ACV | April 8 | Daily, new city |
| SEA | TUL | March 19 | Daily, new city |
| BUR | HNL | May 13 | Daily (summer), Hawaii link |
| ONT | STS | March 18 | Daily, new California wine-country link |
Strategic Tips for Hawai‘i-Based Flyers
Set alerts for award seats on the BUR → HNL route, this could be a valuable new path.
Consider gating into SAN or PDX for your West-Coast layover instead of the usual LAX/SFO if your routing allows, it might offer better availability or fewer crowds.
Monitor the Atmos Rewards changes especially how they affect award charts, partner redemptions and routing to/from Hawai‘i.
Plan ahead for Spring 2026 when launches happen. If you’re booking for summer/fall travel, lock in your award strategy early (Hawaiians know how quickly seats go).
Remember the cutbacks at LAX/SFO: if you normally route through those hubs, double-check that Alaska’s frequencies remain solid (or consider alternate carriers/hubs).
Why Alaska is Making These Moves
Alaska cited the need to be disciplined with aircraft in 2026 given fewer new planes entering its fleet. The hub growth at SAN/PDX and contractions at LAX/SFO reflect where they believe growth and profitability lie. Also, Hawai‘i remains a “global network” piece: as the quote goes, “Portland and Hawai‘i are essential parts of our global network.”
For Hawai‘i-based travel planners and award nerds, this is another reminder that airlines continue to shift strategically and we need to stay ahead of the changes.
Scottie’s Take
Being here in Hawai‘i, I see these kinds of announcements through a slightly different lens: we’re not just “one destination among many.” Our islands demand special routing, special availability and often high demand. So when a carrier like Alaska expands a route to Hawai‘i (as with BUR → HNL) or adjusts its West-Coast hub structure, it directly impacts how we plan our award trips, how we position ourselves for layovers, and how we chase the best seat availability.
If you’re chasing a dream redemption, a second-chance getaway, or just plain want to maximize your miles from Hawai‘i, consider routing flexibility, new hub strategies and booking early. Keep an eye on those new routes launching Spring 2026 and set your alerts now.
Mahalo for reading, and stay tuned for more updates here at Hawaii Reward Travel.
