Alaska Airlines is marking 40 years of flying out of San Diego with a new nonstop route to Loreto, Mexico, a seasonal service that will become the airline's 50th nonstop destination from San Diego International Airport. The twice-weekly flights begin December 19 and run through April 28, 2027, operating Wednesdays and Saturdays on Embraer E175 aircraft.
The Loreto route will be operated by SkyWest Airlines under Alaska's brand, according to Investing.com, which detailed the seasonal operating window aligning with peak eco-tourism season in Baja California Sur. Alaska Airlines said it is the leading carrier serving Mexico from the San Diego market and now offers more nonstop destinations from SAN than any other airline, per Times of San Diego.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria called the addition of the airline's 50th local nonstop destination an exciting milestone for the city, according to the same report. He said more nonstop service brings more visitors who support San Diego's local economy, creates more travel opportunities for San Diegans, and strengthens connections with Mexico.
A Route Rooted in 40 Years of History
Alaska Airlines began service from San Diego on December 1, 1986, and the airline notes that some employees who helped launch that first flight still work for the carrier today. Neil Thwaites said Alaska Airlines is the only carrier with both a pilot and flight attendant base in the region, a distinction the airline is highlighting as it now serves destinations across the United States, Mexico and Latin America from San Diego.
To celebrate the anniversary, Alaska Airlines is giving away one million Atmos Rewards points to a single grand-prize winner and offering 40 Atmos Rewards Gold Status awards, tied to the airline's 40 years of local service. Atmos Rewards is the loyalty program Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines officially merged into last October after Alaska's acquisition of Hawaiian, replacing Mileage Plan and HawaiianMiles while keeping a 1:1 point conversion ratio, according to Alaska Airlines. The carrier already flies nonstop to all four major Hawaiian islands from San Diego.
Loreto's Draw for San Diego Travelers
Loreto sits on the Sea of Cortez in Baja California Sur, bordering the 200,000-hectare Loreto Bay National Marine Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site established in 2005 and globally known for blue whale observation, according to Mexico's National Commission of Natural Protected Areas. Before this new route, Alaska Airlines also served Loreto from Los Angeles. The new December-through-April schedule falls within CONANP's recommended November-to-May visiting period.
San Diego travelers headed to Mexico have also relied on the Cross Border Xpress, a 390-foot pedestrian sky bridge in Otay Mesa that connects directly to Tijuana International Airport and carried more than 4 million cross-border passengers in 2022, according to Mexico News Daily. Tijuana's airport serves more than 35 domestic Mexican destinations directly across the border, giving the CBX corridor an entirely different role than Alaska's new direct Loreto service.
Growth Amid a Terminal Overhaul
The Loreto launch lands as San Diego International Airport rides record passenger volumes, having welcomed 25.32 million total travelers in 2025, according to the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority. The airport also handles international flights.
The new route also arrives as the airport undergoes a terminal overhaul.
Competition Heats Up at SAN
Alaska's expansion also comes amid growing competition for leisure travelers out of San Diego. Southwest Airlines recently announced new or returning nonstop weekend service to Kona and Lihue from San Diego for spring 2027, a move that adds competition to Alaska's existing Hawaii routes from SAN. Alaska has also been expanding its network.
Whether twice-weekly regional-jet service to a winter-heavy leisure market like Loreto can eventually justify year-round flying remains an open question, since the destination's appeal is closely tied to seasonal whale-watching tourism. For now, Alaska Airlines is framing the Loreto route as both a business bet on Mexico travel demand and a nod to the 40 years since its first San Diego departure.
