Alaska Airlines Newark network is more tripling in size over the next 9 months as Alaska Airline adds four new flights between Newark and West Coast destinations. The new transcontinental flights will add to Alaska Airlines growing transcontinental and go head-to-head with United as Alaska pushes further East from their traditional North-South West Coast network. The Alaska Airlines Newark expansion grows Alaska Airlines’ presence in the New York area in preparation for their merger with Virgin America who already has a small New York network with flights at all three NY airports.
Currently Alaska Airlines serves the New York area with two daily flights between Newark and Seattle and once daily between Seattle and New York JFK.
| City pair | Flight Number | Departs | Arrives | Frequency |
| Seattle-Newark | AS 8 | 8:00 a.m. | 4:25 p.m. | Daily |
| Newark-Seattle | AS 11 | 5:25 p.m. | 8:35 p.m. | Daily |
| Seattle-Newark | AS 14 | 3:35 p.m. | 11:45 p.m. | Daily |
| Newark-Seattle | AS 17 | 7:00 a.m. | 10:15 a.m. | Daily |
| Seattle-New York JFK | AS 18 | 9:35 p.m. | 6:00 a.m. | Daily |
| NY JFK -Seattle | AS 7 | 7:15 a.m. | 10:15 a.m. | Daily |
Alaska Airlines Newark expansion will grow Alaska’s NYC presence by adding day time flights between New York – Newark and San Diego and San Jose, California; Portland, Oregon, and an additional flight to Seattle, Washington. Currently there is no plan to shift Alaska’s daily red-eye Seattle – JFK flight from JFK to Newark, but instead grow their presence with a second red-eye option to the New York area.
New flight schedule:
| Start date | City pair | Departs | Arrives | Frequency |
| Nov. 10, 2016 | Portland-Newark | 6:55 a.m. | 2:55 p.m. | Daily |
| Newark-Portland | 3:55 p.m. | 7:05 p.m. | Daily | |
| Nov. 21, 2016 | San Diego-Newark | 9:55 a.m. | 5:55 p.m. | Daily |
| Newark-San Diego | 7:00 p.m. | 10:00 p.m. | Daily | |
| Mar. 12, 2017 | San Jose-Newark | 6:30 a.m. | 2:55 p.m. | Daily |
| Newark-San Jose | 4:05 p.m. | 7:40 p.m. | Daily | |
| May 14, 2017 | Seattle-Newark | 11:50 p.m. | 8:06 a.m. | Daily |
| May 15, 2017 | Newark-Seattle | 9:30 a.m. | 12:25 p.m. | Daily |
Alaska Airlines Newark push brings must needed competition for United between the West Coast and Newark. United is currently the only operator on Portland – Newark and San Diego – Newark. United currently offers twice daily and seasonal thrice daily service to San Diego and a nightly redeye from Portland. Alaska will go uncontested on their new service to San Jose, a quick growing destination for Alaska Airline. Meanwhile in Seattle, Alaska will continue to compete head-to-head with United who offers 3 daily flights between the two airports, thus bringing United and Alaska’s capacity on par.
Alaska is excited to bring this new service to the west coast, and is doing so thanks to the Port’s Authority decision to remove slot constraints at Newark following better ground operations and fewer delays. This is the first time Alaska’s been able to grow exponentially in the New York Area.
“We thank the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for their efforts to increase competition in the New York metro area,” said John Kirby, Alaska Airlines’ vice president of capacity planning. “Since 2015, Alaska has launched 28 new routes from our West Coast hubs and focus cities. With our new expanded service to Newark, we continue to grow our West Coast footprint by offering our valued customers more nonstop flights to popular business and leisure destinations.”
All service to Newark will be on Alaska’s all Boeing 737 fleet offering power at every seat, BYOD streaming entertainment, wifi, and three classes of service including First, Premium, and economy. Flights will land and depart from Terminal A where Alaska Airlines will share gates with codeshare partner American Airlines. Board room members and those flying in First Class will also get access to the conveniently located Admiral’s club.
Watch out New York, The Eskimo is moving in and new flights go on sale on July 25, 2017!
