Alaska Airlines Cancels This 7-Hour Nonstop Route: See Affected Flights Now

Published Sep 28, 2026, 4:00 PM EDT Luke has over a decade of experience as a travel writer and aviation analyst. As a passionate traveler based across the Middle East and Asia, Luke offers strong insights into the industry. Based in South East Asia. Alaska Airlines has dropped its only Hawaii route from Everett Paine Field (PAE), which was due to return for the winter season with a daily Boeing 737-900ER service. In its latest schedule update, the Seattle-based carrier removed all flights between Paine Field and Honolulu International Airport (HNL), which had previously been scheduled to resume on December 17. The cancellation ends the first and only nonstop service ever flown between Paine Field and Hawaii, which Alaska Airlines launched in November 2023. The carrier recently announced a significant expansion at Paine Field, including a new route to San Jose and additional flights on several West Coast routes. Alaska Airlines' Paine Field-Honolulu Flights Won't Return This Winter Credit: Jomica8 | Shutterstock Scheduling data from aviation analytics company Cirium shows that daily flights will not return this winter, despite Alaska Airlines' recent efforts to boost its Paine Field network. The carrier launched the route in November 2023 as a daily, year-round service, before scaling it down to a seasonal winter service the following year. It was Alaska Airlines' first Hawaii route from Paine Field, as well as its first new Honolulu route in more than a decade. This made the Everett airport Alaska Airlines' eighth West Coast gateway to Hawaii. The route most recently flew in April before pausing for the summer season ahead of its expected return in December. Alaska Airlines' 737-900ER fleet was due to handle flights this winter, with a scheduled block time of more than six hours and 30 minutes. Honolulu joins a list of Paine Field routes cut from Alaska Airlines' network in recent years. Loading map… Drag to explore Indeed, flights to Boise Airport (BOI) and Spokane International Airport (GEG) both launched in September 2021, but were dropped by March 2023. Additionally, flights to Anchorage International Airport(ANC) began in November 2022 but ended in August 2024, with a planned May 2025 return later scrapped. Seasonal flights to Tucson International Airport (TUS), first launched in November 2021, were also cut in 2024. The Route Saw Falling Loads & Lower Fares Credit: Joe A. Kunzler | Shutterstock According to US Department of Transportation data, the airline carried just under 111,000 passengers between Paine Field and Honolulu between the route's launch and April 2026. Its strongest year was in 2024, when it carried 37,934 passengers at a 78.5% load factor. That dropped to 33,828 passengers and a 77.8% load factor in 2025. In 2026, load factors declined significantly, falling to 72.6% from January to April 2026. The route carried 28,267 passengers over those four months, at a load factor well below the 79.8% Alaska Airlines averaged across all its Paine Field routes in the first half of 2026. Period Passengers (both ways) Load Factor 2023 (from Nov 17) 10,720 68.0% 2024 37,934 78.5% 2025 33,828 77.8% January-April 2026 28,267 72.6% Seattle-area residents will still be able to fly with Alaska Airlines to Honolulu via the airline's Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) hub. Alaska Airlines operates multiple daily flights on the route, using a mix of Boeing 737s and widebody jets inherited from Hawaiian Airlines. Delta Air Lines also operates nonstop flights between Seattle and Honolulu. A comparison of average fares on flights to Honolulu is also revealing. Alaska Airlines' average one-way fare at Paine Field was $308, compared with $383 on its Seattle-Tacoma route. Despite the two routes covering almost the same distance, the Paine Field service had an average fare around 20% lower than the Seattle-Tacoma service. Alaska Airlines Is Still Going Big On Its Paine Field Expansion Credit: Alaska Airlines As announced last week, Alaska Airlines will be boosting seats at Paine Field by 50% from this fall through to next summer. This will include the return of flights to San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC) after six years, with two daily E175 services commencing on April 14, 2027. Alaska Airlines last operated this pairing in 2020 before suspending services during the COVID pandemic. The airline will also add flights or upgauge capacity on many existing routes. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) will increase to two daily flights, both operated by Boeing 737s, while Portland International Airport (PDX) will increase to twice daily. Additionally, San Diego International Airport (SAN) will switch from the E175 to the 737 on November 1, while San Francisco International Airport (SFO) will also see a capacity boost. Alaska Airlines is currently the only commercial carrier at Paine Field. United Airlines departed in October 2021, while Frontier Airlines briefly operated flights to Denver, Las Vegas, and Phoenix for around seven months before exiting in January 2026.