SLO airport is bringing back direct flights to 2 destinations in 2025. Here’s when and where
Central Coast airports are adding new and returning flights in 2025.
San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport is bringing back direct flights to two destinations —Dallas and Portland, Oregon — and will end seasonal service to one desert city in the spring, airport representatives told The Tribune.
By March, the airport will provide direct flights to nine destinations across the United States, with nonstop trips to San Diego, Seattle and more.
Santa Barbara Airport is also adding new nonstop flights to Phoenix and Denver this year.
Here’s when you can travel to these destinations and how much the trips cost:
When do direct flights from SLO to Portland return?
In March, Alaska Airlines will once again offer nonstop service from San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport to Portland International Airport.
The airline will begin daily flights from SLO to Portland on Wednesday, March 19, according to Courtney Pene, San Luis Obispo County’s deputy director of airports.
“We found out that there’s a lot of similarities between the folks that live in this region and the ones that live in Portland, and what they like to do, where they like to adventure,” Pene said. “So it’s a really popular route. We’re happy that it’s returning.”
Direct flights to Portland will be available year-round, with the price of one-way airplane tickets starting at $99, Alaska Airlines said.
Travelers can book flights online at alaskaair.com or sloairport.com.
Is nonstop flight service to Dallas back?
Direct flights from San Luis Obispo to Dallas returned on Thursday, Feb. 13.
The nonstop flights are offered daily through American Airlines, with plane trips available throughout the year.
Flights to the Texas city were unavailable in January because aircraft was removed from the route for maintenance, Pene said.
One-way flight prices from San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport start at $473, according to the American Airlines website.
What about flights to Las Vegas?
Alaska Airlines will end daily nonstop service from San Luis Obispo to Las Vegas on Monday, April 21, Pene said.
Direct flights from SLO to Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas returned on Oct. 27 amid a high-volume traffic year.
According to an airport news release, passenger traffic at the airport increased by 13.2% during 2024.
“The increase in passenger numbers and the return of direct service to Las Vegas reflect the growing demand for air travel in our region,” San Luis Obispo County director of airports Courtney Johnson said in the release.
Once direct flights from SLO to Las Vegas stop in April, there is no timeline for when or if flights will return to the Central Coast city, the SLO airport said.
“At this time, we cannot say whether Alaska Airlines will bring back the seasonal service to Las Vegas,” Pene told The Tribune. “What we can tell you is that this daily direct service from the SLO County Airport to Las Vegas has been both extremely successful and profitable.”
Pene said the airport advocates making the Las Vegas flight available year-round, but Alaska Airlines must make that determination.
A one-way ticket from SLO to Las Vegas starts at $79.
Santa Barbara Airport adds new flight to Phoenix
Southwest Airlines will begin offering direct flights from Santa Barbara Airport to Phoenix in the summer.
The airline will introduce new nonstop seasonal service to the Arizona city starting Aug. 5.
The direct flights will only be available on Sundays, according to a Santa Barbara Airport news release.
The flight, which will last an hour and 35 minutes, will depart from Santa Barbara Airport at 10:50 a.m. and land at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport at 12:25 p.m., according to Southwest Airlines.
A one-way flight from Santa Barbara to Phoenix costs $181, Southwest Airlines said.
American Airlines also offers nonstop service from Santa Barbara to Phoenix.
More flights from Santa Barbara to Denver coming soon
Direct Southwest Airlines flights from Santa Barbara to Denver will return in early June, according to the airport.
This is the first year the airline is shifting the flight to a seasonal schedule.
The nonstop route will be available from June 5 to Nov. 1, the Santa Barbara Airport said.
Prices for a one-way flight from Santa Barbara Airport to Denver International Airport start at $145, according to the Southwest Airlines website.
United Airlines will continue to offer nonstop flights to Denver all year long, the airport said.
Starting May 1, the airline will add another daily nonstop flight to the Mile High City, translating to direct flights from Santa Barbara to Denver up to three times per day.
Via United, a plane ticket for a one-way trip to Denver costs $284.
An earlier version of the story said the Portland flight would start on Thursday, March 13. Flights from San Luis Obispo to Portland are now starting on Wednesday, March 19. The story has been updated.
This story was originally published February 23, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
