Following vaccination availability and loosened travel restrictions, leisure travel continues to skyrocket. In response, airlines are enhancing service routes to meet the heightened demand of summer travel.
This week’s airline news reveals new Pacific Northwest service from Alaska Airlines, nonstop service between Seattle and Amsterdam from Delta, and the return of Tahiti service from Hawaiian Airlines.
Keep reading to discover the latest airline news for the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
Alaska Airlines expands with Boise and Redding
Alaska Airlines is adding new nonstop service between Washington’s Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport (PUW) and Boise (BOI). Service begins August 17, with five flights per week between the two cities.
“Our new year-round route bridging Boise and Pullman-Moscow will offer a crucial link to that area’s two major universities,” said Brett Catlin, vice president of network and alliances at Alaska Airlines.
Alaska has also introduced daily service between Redding Municipal Airport (RDD) and Seattle (SEA).
Delta enhances trans-Atlantic offerings as borders reopen to tourism
Trans-Atlantic flights continue to return as European destinations reopen to travelers. Delta is operating more flights to Amsterdam than any other U.S. airline, including direct nonstop service between Seattle (SEA) and Amsterdam (AMS).
Effective June 24, passengers from the U.S. do not need to present vaccination or covid test results when entering The Netherlands. Travelers may book flights to Amsterdam and review entry requirements on Delta’s Travel Planning Center. A roundtrip flight from SEA to AMS starts at $1,060 in Delta’s basic economy.
Seascape at the beach in Tikehau island in Tahiti.
Max shen/Getty ImagesHawaiian Airlines to resume Tahiti service
Hawaiian Airlines has announced the return of its Tahiti service following the launch of a pre-travel testing program allowing quarantine-free travel within the two archipelagos. Beginning August 7, Hawaiian will reinstate once-weekly nonstop flying between Honolulu’s HNL airport and Tahiti’s PPT airport.
“We look forward to reconnecting our islands, but most importantly, reconnecting family members who have not seen each other for over a year,” said Peter Ingram, president and CEO at Hawaiian Airlines.
Guests traveling to Tahiti from HNL will need to provide proof of vaccination and have fulfilled the government of Tahiti’s COVID-19 entry requirements prior to travel.
