Airlines Boost Service to Alaska as Cruises Are Shut Out
Alaska will be out of reach for cruises until next year, so many airlines are adding flights to the northernmost state.
Canada’s Transport Ministry has extending a prohibition of passenger cruise vessels carrying more than 100 people visiting its ports through the end of February 2022, effectively canceling the 2021 Alaska cruise season. Alaska-bound cruise ships must embark from Canada or stop at a Canadian port (Passenger Vessel Services Act). According to the Alaska Travel Industry Association, the cruises accounted for 1,331,600 or 60% of all visitors to the state in 2019.
Airlines are taking notice. Delta, Alaska, United and American Airlines are all adding more options for passengers looking to visit Alaska this year, Anchorage Daily News reports.
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines is adding flights to new destinations and hub cities from both Anchorage and Fairbanks. From Anchorage, Delta is adding new nonstop flights to Detroit, New York’s JFK airport and Los Angeles. Flights will operate only on Fridays and Saturdays, starting May 28th.
Additionally, Delta is boosting flights from Anchorage to its hub cities. There seven flights per day between Anchorage and Seattle, three per day for Minneapolis and two per day for Salt Lake City. Delta is also resuming its Anchorage-Atlanta nonstop on May 5.
From Fairbanks, Delta will operate three daily nonstop flights to Seattle, two nonstops to Minneapolis and a new nonstop flight to Salt Lake City.
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines already has the biggest presence in the state. But it will now offer 19 flights each day between Anchorage and Seattle. The schedule shows three flights each day between Anchorage and Portland and two flights daily between Anchorage and Los Angeles.
Starting on June 17, Alaska will resume nonstop service between Anchorage and Denver. The daily flights are scheduled through Aug. 16.
On May 20, Alaska will resume nonstop flights between Anchorage and Las Vegas, and will launch two daily flights from Anchorage to Chicago.
On June 17, Alaska will start a nonstop daily flight from Anchorage to San Francisco.
United and American Airlines
United Airlines on will begin operating daily flights from Anchorage to San Francisco, Houston, Newark and Chicago on June 3rd. United is also adding a daily Anchorage-Fairbanks flight starting on that same day.
American Airlines will have a daily flight to Dallas and one to Chicago. From Anchorage, there are nonstops to Chicago, Dallas and Phoenix.
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