Two New Reasons to Love Flying Out of Paine Field
If you live in Mukilteo, you already know the secret that the rest of the region is slowly catching onto: one of the easiest airports in Washington is sitting right in our backyard. Paine Field in Everett is roughly a 15 to 20 minute drive from the waterfront, and Alaska Airlines just gave us two more reasons to skip the trek down to Sea-Tac.
Portland is back
After being grounded during the pandemic, nonstop service between Paine Field (PAE) and Portland International Airport (PDX) is flying again. The first flight of the relaunched route lifted off from Everett on June 10, and the connection now runs daily.
The return brings Portland back as a direct destination out of Paine Field, joining a lineup of popular West Coast and Sun Belt cities that already includes spots like Las Vegas, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, Orange County, and Palm Springs. For anyone heading to a meeting in Portland, visiting family in Oregon, or connecting onward to places like Houston, Nashville, Dallas, Austin, or Bozeman, it is a quick and low-stress option close to home.
The folks who run the commercial terminal are happy to have it back too. Brett Smith, CEO of Propeller Airports, said the company was “thrilled that Alaska is bringing Portland service back to Paine Field” and pointed to strong demand from travelers who had been asking for the route to return.
Anchorage is coming this fall
The bigger news for adventure seekers: Alaska Airlines is adding a brand new nonstop from Paine Field to Anchorage (ANC). Service begins November 30 on an Embraer 175, with both First Class and Main Cabin seats available.
Here is the planned schedule:
- Depart Everett (PAE) at 11:05 a.m., arrive Anchorage (ANC) at 2:05 p.m.
- Depart Anchorage (ANC) at 1:40 p.m., arrive Everett (PAE) at 6:10 p.m.
Both directions are meal-eligible, so First Class passengers can expect a breakfast, lunch, or dinner option depending on the time of day, and Main Cabin travelers will have beverages and buy-on-board snacks. Anchorage is Alaska Airlines’ largest hub in the state, which means this single nonstop opens the door to onward connections all across Alaska. If a fishing trip, a cruise add-on, or a true Last Frontier road trip has been on your list, getting there just got a lot simpler.
Why this matters for Mukilteo
Paine Field has built a reputation as a small airport that feels almost like a private lounge. The terminal is modern and calm, parking is straightforward, and the lines are nothing like what you fight through at a major hub. For Mukilteo residents, that combination is hard to beat. You can leave the house, park, clear security, and be at your gate in a fraction of the time it takes to manage the drive and crowds down south.
It is good news for local tourism, too. Easier access for visitors flying in from Portland or connecting through Anchorage means more travelers discovering what makes Mukilteo special: the Lighthouse Park, the ferry crossing to Whidbey Island, the beach, the waterfront restaurants, and the wineries and tasting rooms just minutes from the terminal.
Whether you are flying out for a weekend or welcoming guests flying in, these two additions make our corner of Snohomish County feel even more connected. Flights can be booked directly through the Alaska Airlines website, and if you have not yet experienced how easy it is to fly out of Paine Field, this is a great excuse to try.
