Starting May 15, Alaska Airlines will operate nonstop flights between Portland and Houston daily and twice-daily flights to Eugene.
PORTLAND, Ore. — Alaska Airlines is adding new nonstop routes to Oregon airports, including between Portland and Houston.
The Seattle-based airline will begin nonstop daily flights from the Portland International Airport (PDX) and George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), starting May 15. The airline also plans to resume operating two nonstop flights a day between Portland and Eugene and add a new route between San Diego and Medford.
“We’re based in Seattle, but Portland is a second home for us where we’ve been the largest carrier for more than 20 years,” said Kirsten Amrine, vice president of network planning and revenue management at Alaska Airlines. “Our new flights out of Portland, Eugene and Medford show our continued focus on connecting Oregon with the rest of the country.”
Currently, Alaska Airlines operate around 100 average daily flights and serve 58 nonstop destinations from Portland, including four international routes.
The airline said the Portland to Houston route is currently its largest “unserved city from Portland.” The flight will depart Portland daily at 10:30 a.m. and will depart Houston just before 6 p.m. It will be the third nonstop route from Portland to Texas, along with Dallas-Fort Worth and Austin.
For regional flights, the airline made an option for travelers who want to enjoy a full day in Portland from Eugene without staying the night. There’ll be a 5:30 a.m. departure flight in Eugene that can be paired with a 9:55 p.m. return flight from Portland.
During the summer, Alaska Airlines plans to offer four round-trip options from Portland to Medford, starting in mid-May, along with flying three times daily between Portland and Redmond.
“As passenger traffic at PDX continues to grow, so does the opportunity for airlines,” said Dan Pippenger, chief aviation officer at the Port of Portland. “We appreciate the continued partnership with Alaska that gives travelers more options to connect to major markets and more flights within our state.”