One of the largest passenger airlines in the U.S. will begin flying out of Anchorage starting in May.
Southwest Airlines will fly once daily to Las Vegas and Denver from the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, said Andrew Watterson, chief operating officer at Southwest Airlines.
The flights will be red-eyes, Watterson said, referring to overnight trips. Whether the flights will be limited to summer, or run year-round, has not been determined, he said.
Watterson spoke on Thursday at a media event near ticket counters at the airport. It also included state and city officials and a performance by Alaska Native dancers.
Tickets from Anchorage to the cities will go on sale next week, said Watterson.
Watterson said he could not disclose the anticipated prices in advance of the ticket sales, citing federal regulatory concerns about public disclosure of that information.
The Dallas-based airline will join other major airlines with operations out of Anchorage, including Delta, United, American and Alaska airlines.
Alaska will be the 43rd state where the carrier operates, Watterson said.
Southwest has added five new destinations this year counting Anchorage, and expanded to 122 airports, the company said in a prepared statement.
“It’s appropriate to connect the 49th state to our vast domestic network,” Watterson said at the event.
State and Anchorage officials and tourism representatives said at the event that the new service will bring more jobs and visitors to Alaska.
Southwest’s entry into the Alaska market builds on the airport’s efforts to expand passenger and cargo service, the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities said in a statement.
Southwest Airlines disrupted the industry after its founding 58 years ago, and accounts for more than 10% of the market for U.S. passenger air travel.
But it has faced new struggles in recent years.