Alaska Airlines is boosting its service between Seattle and Ohio next year, including adding a new route to Cleveland, the carrier announced.
Daily service to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport will begin June 16, and Alaska the same day also will add second daily flights from Seattle to both Cincinnati and Columbus. That will make Alaska the only airline with direct service between Seattle and all three of Ohio's largest cities, according to the carrier.
Alaska Airlines VP of network and alliances Brett Catlin in a statement called Ohio "an economic powerhouse with a vibrant cultural and corporate scene that is underserved and primed for growth as we emerge from the pandemic." The service to Cleveland in particular is a key artery for global business travel from Ohio, according to Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine.
"Alaska Airlines' decision to choose Cleveland for nonstop service to Seattle will connect Northeast Ohio's financial services sector, healthcare systems and tech industries to markets on the West Coast and Asia, while also giving the West Coast easier opportunities to do business in Northeast Ohio," DeWine said in a statement.
Alaska has been building its global network connections out of Seattle, including its entry into the Oneworld alliance this year and deeper partnerships with American Airlines and Qatar Airways.