More than a decade-long effort ended happily Friday for Tulsa International Airport, which announced it will offer daily nonstop flights to San Diego and Seattle via Alaska Airlines starting March 18.

“Seattle and San Diego have been two of our top three unserved destinations for a long time,” said Alexis Higgins, CEO of the Tulsa Airports Improvement Trust, which operates the airport. “These are destinations that our community has been asking for, not only for leisure travel — both are fantastic vacation destinations — but also because of the deep connections they bring to aviation and aerospace, the tech sector and to our growing business community.”

Alaska Airlines will be the seventh carrier to serve Tulsa International Airport.

“Announcements like (Friday’s) elevate our city’s national profile,” Kim Wilmes, SVP of Economic Development at the Tulsa Regional Chamber, said at the news conference. “Tulsa is no longer just in the conversation; we’re setting the tone for what it means to be a connected, innovative and forward-looking metro area. Every new flight reinforces our message that Tulsa is a great place to live, work, play and visit.

“This success didn’t happen by chance. It’s the result of strong collaboration among the City of Tulsa, Tulsa County, Alexis Higgins and the Tulsa Airports Improvement Trust and our public and private partners. Together, we’ve worked strategically to demonstrate that our region’s demand and economic vitality justify additional routes — and Alaska Airlines has clearly recognized that potential.”

Friday’s additions bring the number of nonstop destinations offered by Tulsa International Airport to 25, which in 2024 served 3.24 million passengers.

“Seattle and San Diego aren’t just two destinations; they really are critical in helping us build out this local economic engine right here in Tulsa, Oklahoma,” Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols said. “Tulsa continues to grow as a tech hub. The route to Seattle connects our businesses directly to the Pacific Northwest tech innovation and aerospace ecosystem. And San Diego strengthens our ties to the defense and biotech industries, all of which are critical to Tulsa’s economic growth.

“These connections will open doors to partnerships for investing and are the kinds of relationships that will help Tulsa companies grow and compete globally.”