Alaska Airlines Swaps Out The Embraer E175 With The Boeing 737-800 Between Seattle & San Luis Obispo
On Thursday afternoon, a Boeing 737 landed at San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP). The landing is a historic one, as the single-aisle twinjet is the largest passenger aircraft to grace the runway at the small county airport.
Bigger is better
The flight, operated by Alaska Airlines
, is twice the size of the typical 76-passenger Embraer E175s that typically land at the airport. It isn’t a one-off event, either. The single-aisle airliner will be a regular at the airport, flying in from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
(SEA) daily, connecting the Central Coast and the Pacific Northwest.
Photo: Ronen Fefer | Shutterstock
According to The Tribune, Courtney Johnson, the Director of SLO County Airport, was upbeat about the introduction of bigger aircraft to the airport:
“This event reflects the increasing demand for air service in our region and highlights our ability to accommodate larger aircraft. We’re excited about what this means for our regional economy and reflects our strong partnership with Alaska Airlines as we continue to grow.”
The schedule for the Boeing 737-800
is as follows:
- Depart from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport at 12:08 PM local time.
- Arrive at San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport at 2:34 PM local time.
- Depart San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport at 3:26 PM local time.
- Arrive at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport at 5:54 PM local time.
The airline previously used an E175 on the route but operated twice-daily flights due to the low capacity of the aircraft. The regional jet has been replaced by the 156-passenger jet, allowing it to fly once daily while maintaining the same capacity.
John Wishmeyer, Alaska Airlines’ Stations Operations Manager, had this to say about the change:
“This larger aircraft allows us to offer even more seats and a greater level of comfort for travelers, while also reinforcing our commitment to providing seamless connections from the Central Coast to Seattle and destinations beyond. We’re proud to support the region’s growth and look forward to the future of air travel in San Luis Obispo.”
The switch also benefits the environment. The airline claims that using the larger aircraft once a day reduces carbon emissions compared to the twice-daily E175 flights.
About SLO County Airport
SBP is the main airport serving San Luis Obispo, California. It opened in 1939 and was used exclusively for military operations until 1945.
Photo: Joe Kunzler | Simple Flying
Three airlines currently serve the airport, which offers nonstop flights to eight different cities, including Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, and Seattle. The airlines that operate at SBP are Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, and United Airlines.
The airport covers an area of 340 acres and features two runways, 11/29 and 7/25. The former is the main runway and is 6,100 ft by 150 ft long, while the latter is much shorter and only 2,500 ft by 100 ft.
The airport underwent a major revamp in 2017 when a new passenger terminal replaced the older one. It can handle up to 1.2 million passengers a year. A flight school has occupied the older terminal.
