San Diego Connected to the Ski Slopes With New Alaska Airlines Flight

Swarming with palm trees, surfers, and glittering beaches, San Diego, California, clearly isn’t a ski town, but a new direct flight offered by Alaska Airlines will make traveling from the warm enclave to Idaho’s mountains much easier.

Alaska Airlines recently announced that starting December 18, 2025, it’ll offer seasonal flights that connect San Diego and Sun Valley three times a week. The new wintertime service operates through March 2026.

“It provides Southern Californians with convenient access to Idaho’s stunning mountain landscapes and world-class skiing, while also offering Sun Valley residents a direct connection to San Diego’s beaches, culture, and sunshine,” said Kimberly Becker, President and CEO of the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, in a press release.

With the new route, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian—which Alaska Airlines acquired in 2024—will have 45 non-stop destinations from San Diego, surpassing any other airline.

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One of several resort skiing hubs in Idaho, Sun Valley features 2,553 acres of skiable terrain, 17 lifts, and 121 named runs. The mountain is famed for its groomed runs and, at the end of last winter, hosted the World Cup alpine racing finals, marking the first time the season-ending competitions had been held in the U.S. since 2017.

The flight for skiers and winter enthusiasts between Sun Valley and San Diego isn’t the only recently announced route for Alaska Airlines. In total, the carrier is adding seven new flights starting this October that connect Southern California to the Pacific Northwest.

The additional flights, most of which are year-round, link locations like Burbank and Bend or Boise and Ontario.

The only other new wintertime seasonal service won’t appeal much to skiers, connecting Palm Springs and Santa Rosa—unless they’re looking for a quick break from the cold before heading back to the mountains.

Alaska Airlines is the only global airline based on the West Coast and offers the most flights between California, Washington, and Oregon, noted Kirsten Amrine, Vice President of Revenue Management and Network Planning at Alaska Airlines, in a press release.

Related: Destructive Landslides Have Dramatically Changed Terrain at Bridger Bowl

San Diego Connected to the Ski Slopes With New Alaska Airlines Flight first appeared on Powder on Aug 4, 2025