American Airlines to Drop San Francisco - Boston Route

In a bit of a shocker, American Airlines will reportedly drop daily nonstops between San Francisco and Boston. According to the AA timetable, the effective date for this change is November 17, 2010. Currently American operates twice-daily flights, a daytime and a red-eye, between the two cities. No immediate word on why the airline is dropping the route, but certainly Virgin America entering this market early last year may have played a role in the decision.

Horizon Air to Drop Sacramento to Santa Barbara Route

Horizon Airlines reservation system indicates the twice-daily service currently offered between Sacramento and Santa Barbara will terminate on August 22, 2010. Although it shows in the current schedule, tickets are no longer bookable beyond this date. This change is part of a larger package of Horizon cuts impacting other regional airports throughout the west.

Summer Season Invites New Bay Area Flights

Just in time for the busy travel season, several new routes are set for take-off at Bay Area airports.

From San Francisco, flights into Bozeman and Missoula, Montana will begin June 9th on United Express, as will flights to Anchorage on United Airlines. Delta will be the latest carrier adding new service between SFO and LAX beginning June 10th, while Hawaiian Airlines adds nonstop service between Oakland and Kahului June 5th.

Also noteworthy is Swiss Air adding service SFO to Zurich this month, Westjet to Vancouver, and Virgin America adds their first international destination to their playbook - Toronto, later in the month.

Japan Airlines to Drop SFO-Narita Flights, Add Haneda

As part of a larger reorganization of the company, Japan Airlines announced today the reduction or elimination of several routes around the world. The airline's international passenger operations will shrink by 40% compared to just two years ago. One route being trimmed is San Francisco to Tokyo - Narita airport. However, the airline plans to replace the route with flights directly into Haneda, which is actually much closer to metropolitan Toyko. The swap of routes is expected around October 31, 2010.

Horizon Airlines Picks up San Jose to Los Angeles Route

Parent company Alaska Airlines said in a press release today they will launch new service between San Jose and Los Angeles beginning August 23, 2010. The airline will operate 4 daily flights between the cities, utilizing 74-seat Bombardier Q400 turboprop planes. Initial fares start at $61 each way. The airline is apparently hoping to connect Silicon Valley travelers to International flights offered by the airlines' alliance partners in L.A.

Special offer: Earn double MileagePlan miles for flights between San Jose and Los Angeles through November 23rd.

Seasonal Service Resumes San Francisco to Milwaukee

Frontier Airlines resumes seasonal non-stop service between San Francisco and Milwaukee today. The flight, still branded under the Midwest Airlines name, is a "red-eye" flight departing at 11:45 PM each night, arriving into MKE at 5:45 AM the next day. Service will discontinue in mid-November.

American Airlines Snips San Francisco - St. Louis Route

As part of a larger cutback in service at St. Louis Airport (STL), American Airlines will eliminate flights to San Francisco and 19 other airports around the country. The airline attributes a softening demand for business travel to St. Louis. The final SFO-STL flight will be Monday, April 5th.

United Introduces Seasonal Flights From SFO to Montana and Alaska

United Airlines will begin seasonal service between several city pairs, including San Francisco (SFO) to Bozeman, Montana and to Anchorage Alaska. Both flights begin June 9th, and operate until August 23rd to Anchorage, November 3rd to Bozeman. Click here for the press release.

WestJet Adds Seasonal Flights from SFO to Canada

Canada-based WestJet Airlines resumes seasonal service between San Francisco and Calgary and Edmonton beginning May 2nd. Calgary service operates daily, Edmonton three days a week. WestJet will also operate flights between SFO and Vancouver between May 2nd and October 31st.

United to Bring Back SFO-Anchorage Flights

United Airlines resumes seasonal service between San Francisco (SFO) and Anchorage (ANC) airport this summer. The once-daily flight departs SFO at 3:50PM, arriving ANC at 7:32PM. The return flight departs ANC at 2:15PM, arriving back in the city at 8:01PM. Flights will operate between June 9 and August 30, 2010, utilizing a Boeing 757 aircraft.

Alaska Airlines ends San Francisco to Los Angeles Flights

Alaska Airlines officially ends SFO-LAX flights today. The airline had been down to just a single flight daily. Codeshare partner American will continue to operate several daily flights between the city pairs.

Swiss Airlines to Launch Flights Between San Francisco and Zurich

Swiss Airlines confirmed this week they plan to launch flight between San Francisco and Zurich, Switzerland beginning June 2, 2010. The flight will operate 6 days a week on a 3-cabin Airbus 340 aircraft.

The schedule is as follows:

SFO - ZRH Departs 7:25 PM, arrives 3:40 PM the next day.

ZRH -SFO Departs 1:15 PM, arrives 4:30 PM the same day.

Swiss is a member of the Star Alliance network.

American Dropping Bay Area Flights Into Orange County

The latest American Airlines scheduler shows all flights from San Jose and San Francisco to Santa Ana/Orange County will be discontinued effective November 18, 2009. Currently six daily departures are offered between these cities, operated by affiliate American Eagle.

American has been trimming away departures from the Bay Area the past several months, and over the summer announced plans to cut the San Jose - Austin "nerd bird" route at the end of this month.

San Francisco to Pittsburgh Route Switching to United

As we reported this past Summer, U.S. Airways is discontinuing nonstop service SFO to Pittsburgh, PA effective August 18th. The red-eye flight currently offered once a day by U.S. Air will instead be replaced by an afternoon departure on United Airlines.

Schedule effective August 18, 2009:

SFO - PIT

UA368* DP 1:00PM AR 8:49PM, Airbus 319.

PIT-SFO

UA433* DP 8:42AM AR 11:10AM, Airbus 319.

*Flight numbers to change effective 9/1/09

New Routes Coming to Greater Bay Area Airports This Summer

Despite a sluggish airline industry, several airlines will launch new service to and from the San Francisco Bay Area this summer. Here's what we are following so far:

Oakland to/from:

Nashville - Southwest Airlines - launches May 9

Eugene - Allegiant Airlines - launches June 8

San Francisco to/from:

Santa Ana/Orange County - Virgin America - April 30th

Santa Ana/Orange County - Southwest Airlines - May 9

Calgary - WestJet - returns June 2

Toronto, Canada - United Airlines - returns June 4

Minneapolis - United Airlines - June 4

Pasco - United Airlines - June 4

Spokane - United Airlines - June 4

Delhi, India - India Airlines - late Summer

Monterey to/from:

Los Angeles - Allegiant Airlines - May 3

San Diego - Allegiant Airlines - May 3

Allegiant Air Expands Monterey Service

Our friends in the Monterey Bay Area will soon have access to non-stop flights between Monterey and sunny Southern California. Beginning May 3rd, Allegiant Airlines will introduce three weekly flights to both San Diego and Los Angeles International Airports. Flights are available from $59 each way at allegiantair.com.

Allegiant also operates non-stop service between Monterey and Las Vegas, and offers a network of other destinations throughout the United States.

More Allegiant Airlines news from inFLIGHTout

WestJet Resumes San Francisco to Calgary Flights in June

Canada-based WestJet Airlines will resume seasonal service between SFO and it's Calgary hub. According to the airline, flights will operate between June 2nd and October 29th, 2009. In addition to San Francisco, the airline operates seasonal service from Palm Springs, San Diego, and Phoenix, and year-round flights from Las Vegas and Florida. Visit WestJet for more information.

Allegiant Air Ends San Francisco Flights Today

Today Allegiant Air will discontinue its twice-weekly flight between San Francisco and Bellingham, Washington. The airline is moving operations across the Bay to Oakland International where it will resume operations Monday, February 2nd.

Bellingham is located along Interstate 5 about 30 minutes south of the Canadian border, and is an alternative to Seattle airport located to the South.

Discounted airfare as low as $28 each way up (example: March 6-March 9) up to Bellingham is available for a limited time. Visit www.allegiantair.com for more information.

Flights From San Francisco to Throughout Mexico Now on Sale

Fly San Francisco to Mexico City Non-Stop for $295 - including taxes and fees!

AeroMexico, Mexicana and U.S Airways have reduced fares for travel throughout Mexico. Fly between San Francisco and cities throughout Mexico for just $200 + tax. Included in the sale are the beautiful resort cities of Acapulco, Mazatlan, Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo, Puerto Vallarta and Los Cabos. and inland gems such as Mexico City, Leon/Bajio and Guadalajara.

Travel at these discounted prices are available throughout 2009 and generally have a 2-night minimum stay requirement. AeroMexico flights begin from SFO on February 12th.

Search for Mexico airfare.

JetBlue Reconnects San Francisco to Boston May 1st

JetBlue recently announced it will return flights, at least for the Summer, between San Francisco and Boston-Logan beginning May 1, 2009. One daily flight will be offered between the two cities. The airline also operates daily nonstops from Oakland International.

Earlier this month, Virgin America said it plans to start twice-daily service between SFO and Boston effective February 12th.