Alaska Airlines begins nonstop flights between Seattle and Charleston on Monday, the first coast-to-coast service at Charleston International Airport.
The flights run on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, according to the airline. The westbound flight leaves Charleston at 5:55 p.m. and reaches Seattle-Tacoma International Airport at 9:10 p.m. local time. The eastbound flight leaves Seattle at 8:25 a.m. and lands in Charleston at 4:54 p.m. Alaska is flying the route with Next Generation Boeing 737s.
Charleston is the seventh new city Alaska has added this year, and its nonstop list from Seattle now stands at 86, the airline said. Introductory one-way fares start at $159 for tickets bought by Nov. 19 and travel completed by March 9.
“The secret about Charleston as a destination is out of the bag, as readers of Conde Nast have voted it the top U.S. city the last five years in a row,” said John Kirby, Alaska’s vice president of capacity planning.
When Alaska announced the route in April, Kirby also cited Boeing’s presence in Charleston. He said “the Boeing Company’s investment has served as a catalyst for economic growth and increased business synergies between Charleston and Seattle.”
Paul G. Campbell Jr., executive director and CEO of the Charleston County Aviation Authority, called the route “our first coast-to-coast air service” and “an important milestone in the growth of air service at Charleston International Airport.”
Dan Blumenstock, chairman of the Charleston Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the hospitality industry welcomes the airline “with open arms and appreciation for launching Charleston’s first transcontinental service.”
Alaska is Seattle’s largest airline. With partner regional carriers, it serves more than 100 cities in the United States, Canada, Costa Rica and Mexico, according to the company.
