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Despite constraints at its biggest hub, competition from Delta, and surging fuel prices, Alaska’s chief commercial officer told Skift that he thinks the carrier can dominate the West Coast with its premium investments and push into international routes.
Alaska Airlines sees more opportunity to grow out of its West Coast hubs in Portland and San Diego as it grapples with surging fuel costs and an increasingly constrained Seattle-Tacoma Airport, the carrier’s chief commercial officer Andrew Harrison told Skift.
“The biggest lever is to put more and more connecting traffic over Portland and leave the seats available in Seattle for the Seattle local passenger,” Harrison said. “We have huge opportunity in upgauging — [Boeing 737 Max 10s come at 188 seats and Max 7s leaving 124] is another opportunity. Paine Field is yet another one.”
Harrison’s comments come as SeaTac, Alaska’s biggest hub, is expected to reach capacity by 2032, which could likely lead to flight restrictions, disruptions, and higher airfares. The airport is undergoing a multi-billion-dollar renovation, including a plan to expand Concourse C, which houses Alaska�
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