Alaska Airlines Launches New International Routes

Traveling from the West Coast to the Caribbean and Central America has traditionally been a challenge due to a lack of nonstop flights, resulting in lengthy travel days. However, Alaska Airlines is set to change that with their latest offerings.

The Seattle-based airline recently announced that beginning this winter, travelers will have the opportunity to fly directly from Los Angeles to Guatemala City, Guatemala, and from both Los Angeles and Seattle to Nassau, Bahamas. This marks the first time Alaska Airlines has serviced either destination, coming shortly after low-cost carrier JetBlue launched its inaugural nonstop route from Los Angeles to the Bahamas, which expands flight options to the Caribbean and Central America for West Coast residents.

Alaska’s Vice President of revenue management and network planning expressed enthusiasm about adding new destinations to their route map, stating that they believe “guests will value the convenience of nonstop flights.”

Pricing and Flight Schedules

At the time of reporting, the lowest one-way fares to the Bahamas were $227 from Los Angeles and $299 from Seattle, with prices from Los Angeles to Guatemala at $423.

Flights to and from the Bahamas will commence on December 15 and conclude for the season on April 9, 2024. Los Angeles flights are scheduled for Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday mornings (returning that same evening), while Seattle flights will operate on Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday. JetBlue is the only other airline currently providing a Los Angeles to Nassau route (on Saturdays only, starting November 4, 2023), and no other carriers offer direct service from Seattle to Nassau.

For Guatemala, service will begin on December 14, 2023, and will be available year-round. Presently, Delta, United, and Avianca also provide nonstop flights from Los Angeles to Guatemala City.

More International Routes Ahead

Alaska Airlines has a smaller international route network compared to major U.S. legacy carriers, largely depending on its partnership with American Airlines for international travel. Currently, the only other international destinations served by Alaska Airlines are Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, and Mexico.

In conjunction with the announcement of new flights, Alaska also revealed plans to introduce service to several destinations in Mexico, including:

• Las Vegas to Cabo San Lucas (starting December 15 and running until April 10, 2024)
• Las Vegas to Puerto Vallarta (beginning December 14 and concluding April 9, 2024)
• San Diego to Zihuatanejo (starting December 23 and ending April 6, 2024)
• Chicago to Zihuatanejo (starting December 23 and concluding April 6, 2024)

This article was initially published on July 11, 2023, and has been updated with new information.