On Tuesday, September 26, Alaska Airlines lifted off out of the Indianapolis International Airport (IND) on its inaugural flight to San Francisco – making it the third daily, year-round nonstop flight from Indy to the Bay Area city and Silicon Valley. With recent air service announcements, this makes up the most West Coast connectivity in the airport’s history.

Flights from Indy to San Francisco will be served by Virgin America Airbus aircraft. Flights will arrive in Indy from San Francisco at 7:50 p.m., and depart from Indianapolis at 8:40 p.m.

Demand for the flights is so strong that United Airlines recently launched its second daily, nonstop flight to the Bay Area city, with an early morning departure and a late-afternoon return. Tech executives from Torchlite, ClearObject and DK New Media shared reasons why access to nonstop flights is critical for business success in a recent TechPoint post. 

Mario Rodriguez

Mario RodriguezExecutive Director

“This really is a significant milestone for Indianapolis and the airport; it’s a testament to how far the city has come in the past few years,” said Mario Rodriguez, executive director of the Indianapolis Airport Authority. “In 2013, we landed the first San Francisco flight with hopes and effort invested in growing that route. Today we have three nonstop, daily flights to San Francisco and Los Angeles, year-round, nonstop flights into Seattle, and seasonal service to San Diego. That makes up a solid route of travel to the West Coast, with connections available into the Asia-Pacific region.”

Rodriguez said today’s flight is also a testament to Alaska Airlines’ investment in Indianapolis.

“Alaska Airlines is the newest airline to partner with the Indianapolis airport, delivering not one but two crucial routes in less than a year and opening up the door to a long unserved market with its Seattle flight,” said Rodriguez.

With the acquisition of Virgin America, Alaska Airlines is able to provide more aircraft and gates on the West Coast. The airline launched its inaugural flight from Indianapolis to Seattle in May.

The Indianapolis airport averages 143 daily flights, seasonally and year-round, to 48 nonstop destinations. Recently the IAA announced that Delta Airlines will launch the first nonstop, transatlantic flight from Indy to Paris in May 2018. It will be the first nonstop scheduled flight to Europe in the history of the Indianapolis International Airport.

To book a flight to San Francisco or Seattle with Alaska Airlines, visit www.alaskaair.com.