On August 20, Alaska Airlines launched its inaugural flight from Phoenix Sky Harbor to San Diego International, marking a significant milestone in the aviation world. This new route, which operates three times daily using mainline aircraft, introduces a fourth carrier to this popular route for the first time in over 20 years. Covering a short distance of just 264 nautical miles (489 km) each way, this route is a bustling corridor. According to the US Department of Transportation, nearly 1,977 local passengers make the round trip between these two airports daily, highlighting the demand for this service. These passengers are strictly local, meaning they don’t connect to other flights beyond these two destinations.
Historically, this route has seen multiple airlines vying for passengers, but for the past two decades, it was primarily dominated by two carriers at a time—first US Airways and Southwest, then American and Southwest. Frontier joined the competition in 2019, and now Alaska Airlines has entered the scene as part of its expansion from San Diego. This move has prompted Southwest to announce several new routes from California to compete with Alaska. However, Alaska’s current schedule might not be ideal for those looking for convenient day trips in either direction, as the flight times are somewhat spread out throughout the day.
The Phoenix-San Diego market is indeed a large one, with Southwest leading the pack by carrying 59.5% of the local passengers. American follows with 20.7%, and despite having fewer flights, Frontier manages to capture 18.3% of the market, thanks to its competitive fares. In addition to the local passengers, there are 1,712 travelers who connect through Phoenix or, less frequently, San Diego, bringing the total daily passenger count to 3,689. American Airlines handles the most transit traffic, followed by Southwest and Frontier. With Alaska Airlines now in the mix, it will be interesting to see how the dynamics of this route evolve. #AlaskaAirlines #PhoenixToSanDiego #AviationNews
Originally reported by Simple Flying Read More
