SLO County Welcomes Nonstop Service to San Diego

Alaska Airlines now serves direct flights from San Luis Obispo to San Diego

Today the San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP) and Visit SLO CAL welcomed daily nonstop service to San Diego International Airport (SAN) on Alaska Airlines. The launch marks the fifth new nonstop service for the airport in three years and brings SBP’s total offerings to eight destinations.  

The San Diego flight is the second time that the airport has coordinated with Alaska Airlines to begin new air service. In 2017, Alaska launched their first direct flight from San Luis Obispo to Seattle. The airline will also begin daily service from San Luis Obispo to Portland, Oregon, beginning June 18, 2020. 

“We are excited to expand our service to the San Luis Obispo area and further our commitment to the West Coast,” said Annabel Chang, Vice President, Bay Area at Alaska Airlines. “In the air, Alaska guests will receive award-winning service and West Coast-inspired food and beverage. On the ground, they can experience California’s Central Coast bountiful food, wine and outdoor scene and even bring home a piece of their trip with our Wine Flies Free program.”

Kevin Bumen, A.A.E., Director of Airports commented, “What a wonderful way to begin a new year! We are thrilled to increase our connectivity within California, and are so excited to offer our region this direct link to San Diego’s beaches, businesses, and universities.” 

The daily flights will take just over an hour and are currently scheduled to depart San Luis Obispo at 2:10pm and arrive in San Diego at 3:17pm. Return flights leave San Diego at 12:15pm and arrive in San Luis Obispo at 1:27pm. 

Flight AS 3498	Departs SBP at 2:10pm	Arrives SAN at 3:17pm
Flight AS 3457	Departs SAN at 12:15pm	Arrives SBP at 1:27pm

The service will be operated by SkyWest Airlines as AlaskaSkyWest, on a three-class Embraer E175. The comfortable and efficient plane offers three classes of seating: First, Premium and Economy. Additionally, with Alaska’s much-loved Wine Flies Free program, guests can check a case of wine from SBP with no baggage fee.

This new service will increase the ability for visitors to fly into San Luis Obispo to explore the diverse destination and inject spending into the local economy. Based on a recent economic impact study conducted by the airport, commercial air service helps SBP contribute more than $85 million to the regional economy each year. “Our air service development partnership with the airport and the County over the past three years has yielded incredible results,” said Chuck Davison, President & CEO of Visit SLO CAL. “This new San Diego flight is a great example of the progress made when local government, non-profits and private business galvanize around a common goal. As we expand accessibility to SLO CAL through new air service, we create new opportunities for visitors to our destination, but also access to travel, investment, talent and customers for our region’s overall commerce.” 

Tickets between San Diego and San Luis Obispo are on sale now at alaskaair.com. San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Adam Hill noted, “This new flight will no doubt be enthusiastically welcomed by business travelers and tourists alike!”