Alaska Airlines launches new service from San Jose to Tucson, Austin

Seattle-headquartered Alaska Airlines on Aug. 28 launched service from Silicon Valley to Tucson, Arizona and Austin, Texas.

Daily non-stop flights will depart Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) for Tucson International (TUS) and Austin-Bergstrom International (AUS), giving the carrier the distinction of offering direct service to more destinations from SJC than any other carrier.

The new routes will bring the number of total destinations served from SJC to 18, with 31 daily departures, and increase the airline's penetration in the larger Bay Area market.

Alaska Airlines E175
"With the additional flights, Alaska and Virgin America will offer guests 131 daily nonstop flights to 42 destinations from the three major Bay Area airports by the end of the year," Annabel Chang, VP for the Bay Area, said in a statement.

State officials are especially pleased about the new connection between the tech hubs of San Jose and Austin.

"This important business route will serve thousands of Silicon Valley residents and workers," State Assemblyman Marc Berman, who represents Palo Alto, added.

Daily flights for Austin will leave SJC at 8:45 a.m., arriving at AUS at 2:05 p.m. Return flights will leave the Texas city at 3 p.m., arriving in the south bay at 4:53 p.m.

Flights for Tucson will depart at 5:33 p.m. and arrive at TUS at 7:45 p.m. Flights from Tucson will depart at 7 a.m. beginning Aug. 29, to arrive at SJC at 9:27 a.m.

All times are local. Flight times to and from Arizona will change when the country reverts to standard time, as Arizona does not observe daylight saving time.

The flights will be aboard Embraer E175 regional jets. According to SeatGuru.com, Alaska's E175s all have 12 recliner seats in First Class that are 21 inches wide, with 42 inches of pitch. They also have 12 Premium Economy seats that are 18.25 inches wide with 36 inches of pitch, and 52 standard economy seats that are also 18.25 inches wide, with 32 inches of pitch.

The new flights build on previously announced routes that began March 20 and include daily flights from San Jose to Newark, New Jersey (EWR); three times daily flights from San Jose to Burbank Bob Hope Airport. (BUR); as well as a four times daily service from San Jose to Los Angeles (LAX), which will begin on September 20.

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