Alaska Air Nonstop Flight to Jackson Hole to Debut in Time for Ski Season

In a first for San Diego, Alaska Airlines will be introducing nonstop service to Jackson Hole, Wyo., this December, just in time for the winter ski season.

The five-times-weekly service between San Diego and Wyoming will debut Dec. 17 and run through April 11 of next year. The airline, in its news release announcing the new flight, notes that it is coming at a time when being outdoors is viewed as a safer alternative during the pandemic.

"Jackson Hole and the surrounding Grand Teton mountains offer a legendary winter playground with a rich history, amazing service, and plenty of activities both on and off the mountain," said Brett Catlin, Alaska's managing director of capacity planning and alliances.

"We know our guests on the West Coast are looking for nonstop access to more outdoor locales and we're excited to expand our footprint with the addition of Jackson Hole."

The new 2-1/2 hour flight will depart San Diego at 11:55 a.m. on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

"We welcome the addition of service to Jackson Hole, which is a premier winter destination for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter sports," said Kimberly Becker, San Diego County Regional Airport Authority President and CEO. "The area also serves as a gateway to Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park. San Diegans looking for a winter adventure will appreciate the convenience of this nonstop route."

Tickets for one-way flights start at $129 for "saver" fares and are already on sale.

The latest destination announced by Alaska marks the seventh new market added by the airline so far this year.

Service to Redmond, Ore., and San Luis Obispo began in January. There are upcoming flights to Cancun, Mexico, beginning Nov. 20 through April 12, 2021; Santa Barbara, Calif., beginning Nov. 20; and Fort Lauderdale, Fla., beginning Nov. 21. Service to Missoula, Mont., will begin March 11, 2021.

While it may be hard to gauge demand for the new flight, the San Diego airport does know how many people were flying to Jackson Hole from San Diego via connecting flights. In 2019, the average was 18.4 passengers per day each way, said airport spokeswoman Sabrina LoPiccolo.

However, since the peak season for the route is winter and summer, the average for the first quarter of last year was 23.7 passengers per day each way.

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