Alaska Airlines launches direct flight from Portland to New Orleans – The Points Guy

Alaska Airlines is introducing a new flight route to New Orleans from one of its hubs on the West Coast.

Beginning in January, the Seattle-based airline will provide direct, seasonal flights from Portland International Airport (PDX) in Oregon to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY).

The service will commence on January 6 and continue until May 14. Reservations are currently available.

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Even though the new route will only be available for five months, it will surely provide Pacific Northwest travelers with more chances to visit New Orleans during an important time of year.

In addition to the city’s famous Mardi Gras celebrations at the beginning of the year, New Orleans’ Caesars Superdome is set to host the upcoming Super Bowl on February 9.

Route details

Alaska Airlines will run the winter seasonal route daily using a Boeing 737 mainline aircraft. The itinerary is as follows:

• Flights from PDX to MSY depart at 9:05 a.m. Pacific Time and arrive at 3:30 p.m. Central Time.
• MSY-PDX: Leaves at 4:35 p.m. Central Time; lands at 7:50 p.m. Pacific Time

Expanding its Portland and New Orleans facilities

By incorporating New Orleans into its itinerary, Alaska Airlines will now offer 55 direct flight destinations from its Portland hub.

Interestingly, Portland will become only the second city in the network to provide service to the Big Easy. Currently, Alaska Airlines offers a nonstop flight to New Orleans solely from its hub at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).

As leaders in both cities mentioned, no airlines currently operate on the Portland-New Orleans route, making it an interesting option for travelers.

“Portland has long been the leading underserved destination from New Orleans. This new route not only fortifies the link between our dynamic cities but also emphasizes our dedication to improving the travel experience for both our community and visitors,” stated Kevin Dolliole, the MSY director for aviation.

According to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium, Alaska Airlines will increase the number of seats departing from Portland by just over 12% in 2024, even before introducing a new nonstop service in early 2025. However, the number of seats will still be below the levels seen in 2019.

Bottom line

It’s important to note that while this seasonal route will increase traffic to New Orleans for the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras, Alaska will narrowly miss another significant event: the Sugar Bowl on January 1. This event will be one of the inaugural college football quarterfinal games for the coming season.

Nevertheless, there’s never a bad time to travel to a city like New Orleans, which offers rich cuisine, abundant cultural and entertainment options, and excellent hotels.

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