vegas just got closer
For the first time ever, Southwest Airlines is flying nonstop to Alaska, and Anchorage is the city that landed it.
Daily Alaska staff · May 25, 2026 · Anchorage
Daily Alaska staff · May 25, 2026 · AnchorageYou can thank a brand new airline for it.
As of last week, you can fly straight from Anchorage to Las Vegas or Denver with no stops. It's the first time Southwest has ever flown anywhere in Alaska. They run it twice a day through the middle of September.
This is a big deal for our wallets. More airlines competing over the same routes usually means cheaper seats for the rest of us. Alaska Airlines already bumped its own Anchorage to Vegas flights up to daily just to keep up.
Anchorage is now Southwest's 122nd airport, and Alaska is their 43rd state. They even rolled out the water cannon salute and had folks dressed as moose greeting that first flight.
For anyone with family down in Vegas or Denver, or just itching for a warm trip this winter, the math just got friendlier. Summer's the season to lock in those seats before they fill up.