Later this year, San Diego International Airport will get its first nonstop flight to Loreto, Mexico, thanks to Alaska Airlines, which is kicking off a monthslong celebration in honor of its 40-year presence here.<\/p>\n
While Alaska and Southwest airlines already offer nonstop flights to Puerto Vallarta and San Jose del Cabo, no carrier currently has a direct flight to Loreto, known as one of Mexico\u2019s more low-key beach town retreats that also offers access to the Sea of Cortez.<\/p>\n
The twice-weekly flights will debut Dec. 19 and run through April.<\/p>\n
The seasonal Loreto route, which the airline announced on Thursday, marks Alaska\u2019s 50th nonstop out of San Diego. While it is not the region\u2019s largest carrier \u2014 that distinction belongs to Southwest Airlines \u2014 it claims the largest number of nonstop destinations.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs San Diego\u2019s airline, we\u2019re proud to offer more nonstop destinations from San Diego than any other airline and to be the leading carrier serving Mexico from the market,\u201d said Darren Scott, Alaska\u2019s managing director of network. \u201cLaunching our 50th nonstop destination from San Diego as we celebrate 40 years of serving the region is a meaningful way to thank our guests for choosing Alaska and Hawaiian and trusting us to connect them to the places they want to go.\u201d<\/p>\n
The latest nonstop coincides with a 40th anniversary celebration that will include a major giveaway. Forty individuals will receive Alaska\u2019s Atmos Rewards Gold status for 40 years, and one grand-prize winner will receive 1 million Atmos Rewards points that can be used across Alaska Airlines\u2019 global network. The loyalty program also applies to flights on Hawaiian Airlines, which Alaska acquired in 2024.<\/p>\n
The airline, in its Thursday announcement, said that travelers can expect still more giveaways and celebrations throughout the year.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re proud to be San Diego\u2019s leading airline, with deep roots in the community, the most extensive network, and the only carrier with both a pilot and flight attendant base in the region,\u201d said Neil Thwaites, vice president of global sales and California commercial performance at Alaska Airlines. \u201cSome of the employees who helped launch our first flight from San Diego are still with Alaska today, a testament to their dedication and to our enduring commitment to this community. As we celebrate 40 years in San Diego, we\u2019re grateful to our employees and loyal guests who choose Alaska every day.\u201d<\/p>\n