If you’re planning a trip with Alaska Airlines anytime soon, you might want to double-check your flight path. The airline is making some big changes to its route map—cutting several flights and adding new ones that could reshape how and where you travel, especially if you’re West Coast–based.
The Routes Getting the Axe
Effective August 20, 2025, Alaska Airlines will discontinue the following routes:
- Los Angeles (LAX) to Nassau, Bahamas (NAS)
- Los Angeles (LAX) to Washington Dulles (IAD)
- San Francisco (SFO) to Washington Dulles (IAD)
- San Francisco (SFO) to Chicago O’Hare (ORD)
These cuts primarily affect transcontinental routes and include the only international destination on the list, Nassau. The LAX–Nassau route had only been in service since December 2023, making it a relatively short-lived experiment.
Strategic Shifts: Why the Changes?
The route adjustments are part of Alaska Air Group’s broader strategy to optimize its network following the company’s acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines. Rather than spreading its resources thin, Alaska is streamlining operations to focus on high-demand, high-efficiency markets.
Several of the cut routes departed from United Airlines’ strongholds—Washington Dulles and Chicago O’Hare—where Alaska faces fierce competition. By stepping away from these underperforming routes, the airline can reallocate aircraft and crew to more strategic parts of its network, particularly on the West Coast and to Hawaii.
Alaska is also sharpening its focus on Seattle, its home base and most profitable hub, as it positions itself as a serious player in international travel.
Expanding Horizons: New Opportunities for Travelers
While a few routes are being cut, Alaska Airlines is also adding exciting long-haul options:
- Seattle to Tokyo Narita (NRT): Daily nonstop service begins May 12, 2025
- Seattle to Seoul Incheon (ICN): Daily nonstop flights start in October 2025
These new routes are a major development for Alaska. They’re made possible by the integration of Hawaiian Airlines’ widebody Boeing 787 aircraft into the fleet, enabling the carrier to move into long-haul international travel for the first time.
Alaska is banking on Seattle’s growing status as a global travel hub to support these routes, and these additions could attract both business and leisure travelers looking for more direct service to Asia.
What This Means for Your Travel Plans
- Flying out of LAX or SFO? If you usually rely on Alaska for trips to the East Coast or the Bahamas, you’ll need to consider alternative carriers or connecting flights.
- Heading to Asia? The new Seattle routes to Tokyo and Seoul open up streamlined options for international travel, especially for West Coast passengers.
- Planning a Hawaii trip? Alaska remains one of the top carriers to the islands, with more seamless integration and potential route enhancements thanks to its partnership with Hawaiian Airlines.
Final Thoughts
Alaska Airlines is making bold moves to refine its network and better serve travelers, especially those based in the Pacific Northwest. The decision to cut four underperforming routes may be inconvenient for some, but it’s part of a larger plan to focus on profitable markets and expand internationally.
Whether you’re a frequent flyer or planning your first Alaska getaway, these changes are worth keeping in mind as you book your next trip. And with new routes to Asia on the horizon, Alaska may soon become a go-to airline for more than just domestic travel.
