Alaska Airlines plans to expand in California early next year with the launch of eight new routes, including several that Seattle-based Alaska served in years past.

Alaska's regional airline partners, which include Horizon Air and SkyWest Airlines, will operate most of the new flights.

The expansion kicks off 7 January with twice-daily Los Angeles-Spokane flights and once-daily Los Angeles-Redmond (Oregon) flights, Alaska says.

On 19 March Alaska's regional partners will begin twice-daily San Francisco-Spokane flights, once-daily San Diego-Redmond flights and once-daily San Francisco-Redmond service.

That same day, Alaska's network will expand to include twice-daily Los Angeles-Boise flights and once-daily Los Angeles-Missoula flights.

Alaska's regional affiliates will operate all those routes.

On 21 April Alaska Airlines will begin once-daily San Francisco-Anchorage flights using Boeing 737s, the airline says.

Alaska faces competition on most of the new routes from airlines including Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, Cirium schedules data shows.

Only the San Diego-Redmond route has no current air service, data shows.

Source: FlightGlobal.com