Heads up, transcontinental travelers.
Alaska Airlines announced on Tuesday that it will launch daily nonstop service from Seattle to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport beginning on Sept. 16, 2015.
Alaska already offers twice-daily service between Seattle and Newark Liberty International Airport, but the new service to JFK will allow passengers to connect to New York's hub for international flights.
The service will fly passengers across the country on Next Generation Boeing 737 aircraft.
"Our new service to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport provides our valued customers greater access to the nation's largest market," said Alaska Airlines' vice president of capacity planning John Kirby in a statement. "Alaska offers three times more daily flights than any other airline from our hometown of Seattle and serves the top 25 destinations for business travelers."
The daily service from the West Coast to the East Coast is scheduled to depart Seattle-Tacoma International Airport at 9:35 p.m. PST and arrive at JFK at 6 a.m. EST the next day. Meanwhile, Alaska flights from JFK to Sea-Tac, which will begin on Sept. 17, will depart the Big Apple at 7:15 a.m. EST and arrive in the Pacific Northwest at 10:15 a.m. PST.
Seattle Mayor Ed Murray commented on what the new service means for air travelers, pointing out that "adding direct flights to JFK is another example of them [Alaska Airlines] helping Seattle flyers connect conveniently not just to New York City, but destinations around the globe."
In addition to providing another convenient option for air travelers, the new route has the potential to help boost the local economy.
"Alaska's extensive network continues to be a key component of the Seattle area's economic growth engine," said U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, (D-WA), a ranking member on the Senate Subcommittee on aviation, operations and security.
In celebration of the launch, Alaska will offer one-way fares for as low as $149 for tickets purchased by March 16 on air travel completed by Nov. 18.
The Seattle-based carrier is also launching "A Weekend in New York" sweepstakes on its official Facebook page. The contest began Tuesday morning and will be open to adult customers (18 years or older) residing in Alaska, Washington, Oregon and Idaho.
Plus, for a brief period of time between Sept. 16 and Oct. 28, Alaska's Mileage Plan members can earn double miles on flights between Sea-Tac and JFK.
This week's new service announcement comes amid Alaska's ongoing battle for Seattle with Delta Air Lines and on the heels of a statement from the airline last week indicating interest in the Greater Seattle area's Paine Field.
"As the hometown carrier with longstanding and deep ties in the region, Alaska Airlines is keenly interested in terminal construction that could make commercial service possible at Paine Field," said Alaska Air in a statement. "We are taking a fresh look at Paine Field to determine whether the demand exists to support commercial service in this market and the role Alaska Airlines would have in meeting that demand."
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