Alaska Airlines to Restart Services Between Paine Field & Portland

Core Insights - Alaska Airlines, a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group, will resume nonstop daily service between Seattle Paine Field International Airport and Portland International Airport starting June 2026 [1][7] - The route is highly demanded among travelers in the greater Puget Sound region, connecting significant economic and cultural hubs in the Pacific Northwest [2][3] - The resumption of this service is expected to enhance Alaska Airlines' competitive position in the global airline industry [3] Company Performance - Over the past month, shares of Alaska Air Group (ALK) have increased by 29.1%, outperforming the Zacks Airline industry's growth of 17.5% [4][7] - The service will provide travelers from Paine Field access to Alaska Airlines' extensive network of destinations through Portland [7] Investment Considerations - Investors in the Transportation sector may also consider Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. (EXPD) and LATAM Airlines Group (LTM) as potential investment opportunities [8] - EXPD has a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) with an expected earnings growth rate of 3.50% for the current year [9] - LTM holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) with a projected earnings growth rate of 52.63% for the current year [10]