WHEREAS, Alaska celebrated Rural Transit Day for the first time on July 16, 2020, to focus on what agencies have done and are doing to recognize the specialized needs of rural passengers and staff; and

WHEREAS, as the reliance on rural transit has grown, so has the need to maintain the elements necessary for effective rural transit, including infrastructure and personnel; and

WHEREAS, Alaska’s state road system spans over 5,600 miles, with many communities not connected to the national highway system, and many Alaskans rely heavily on rural transit for access to their basic life needs; and

WHEREAS, Alaska Community Transit (ACT), part of the Division of Program Development under the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, manages Federal Transit Administration grant funds for 12 rural transit sub-recipients to assist with providing access and mobility to the general public and to transit-dependent populations; and

WHEREAS, as our communities change and grow, reliable and accessible rural transit continues to become a greater necessity to deliver people to work, medical appointments, shopping centers, entertainment locations, and other vital destinations.

NOW THEREFORE, I, Mike Dunleavy, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF ALASKA, do hereby proclaim July 16, 2024 as:

Rural Transit Day

in Alaska and encourage all Alaskans to take advantage of and support activities provided by Alaska’s rural transit operators.

Dated: July 16, 2024

Alaska Airlines is expanding its winter travel schedule with 18 new routes to sun-drenched vacation hotspots and snowy getaways, including a brand-new destination: Eagle, Colorado (EGE), for the fashionable ski resort Vail.

For winter travelers who like to chase warm temperatures, the carrier will offer seven new routes to Mexico.

Between December and February, Alaska will operate a daily flight between Fresno (FAT) and Guadalajara (GDL).

Starting in January and running into the spring, Alaska will introduce a four-times-weekly flight between New York City (JFK) and Puerto Vallarta (PVR), the first nonstop link between New York state and the resort town.

Alaska will also launch once-weekly flights from Sacramento (SMF), Kansas City (MCI), and St. Louis (STL) to Puerto Vallarta and another route from Kansas City to Cancún (CUN). A five-times weekly flight will shuttle Sacramentans to Los Cabos (SJD) and the top Mexican tourist destination, Cabo San Lucas.

Photo: Cabo San Lucas. Courtesy of John Cafazza / Unsplash.

These seasonal routes join the two new Mexican destinations Alaska Airlines unveiled last week: La Paz (LAP) in Baja California Sur and Monterrey (MTY), to be served year-round from Los Angeles (LAX) starting this fall.

Alaska will also increase its flights to Liberia, Costa Rica (LIR), a destination it first reached in 2015 and currently serves from LAX. Between December and May, Alaska will fly once weekly to Costa Rica from its hubs in Seattle (SEA) and San Francisco (SFO).

With the addition of the Costa Rica flight, Alaska will operate 104 nonstop flights from its home base of Seattle–Tacoma International Airport. The flights will also underline Alaska’s status as “the largest U.S. carrier between the West Coast and Latin America,” it says.

For those searching for winter snow, Alaska is also adding links to North America’s best ski resorts. That includes its first service to Eagle County Regional Airport, the gateway to Vail and its slopes, from Seattle and San Diego (SAN).

Photo: Vail, Colorado. Katie Musial on Unsplash

A new flight from LAX to Kelowna, Canada (YLW) will connect Angelinos to British Colombia’s best ski resorts. At the same time, San Diegans will have easier access to Reno (REN) and the ski resorts around Lake Tahoe.

Other new routes on the list target vacation favorites: a seasonal service between Boise, Idaho (BOI) and Bozeman, Montana (BZN), gateway to Yellowstone National Park, and winter flights from Sacramento and Boise to Orlando (MCO) for Central Florida’s warm weather and theme park smorgasbord.

The only year-round service on the list is a link between Boise and John Wayne Airport (SNA) in California, just miles from Disneyland.

Photo: Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9. Courtesy of Alaska Airlines

“We’re thrilled to offer convenient connection for guests across our network with this expansion—whether checking destinations off their bucket lists or setting off to their favorite winter getaways, we’ve put together an exciting range of options from tropical destinations across Mexico to the most popular ski slopes in North America,” Kirsten Amrine, vice president of network planning and revenue management at Alaska Airlines, said.

By doubling down on leisure travel, Alaska Airlines may be hoping to offset the slow recovery of its corporate travel business following the pandemic. The airline has been particularly hit by slashed travel budgets among the tech giants near its Seattle and San Francisco hubs. While meetings can be Zoom calls, Alaska is betting that real-life vacations still have appeal.

In this podcast episode, Amy discusses her seven-night Alaska cruise on Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Jewel. She shares her pre-cruise experiences in Vancouver, the smooth embarkation process, and her impressions of the stateroom.

Amy talks about the dining options, entertainment, and her participation in the “Newlywed Show.” She describes the ports of call, including Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway, and highlights her Glacier Bay experience.

Amy also provides tips on packing, saving money, and making the most of the cruise. She concludes with her overall positive impressions of the Norwegian Jewel and the Alaska itinerary.

Timestamps:

• The pre-cruise thoughts (00:00:29): Amy’s decision to cruise to Alaska, her travel history, and the factors influencing her choice.
• Travel to Vancouver (00:01:20): Amy’s travel from Nashville to Vancouver, including flight experiences and a hotel stay in Vancouver.
• Embarkation (00:03:59): The embarkation process in Vancouver, including customs clearance and boarding the ship.
• Stateroom (00:06:47): Amy’s choice of an inside stateroom, the stateroom’s features, and her experience during the cruise.
• Dining (00:09:03): Discussion of the buffet and main dining room experiences, including the flexibility of freestyle dining.
• Entertainment (00:13:53): Overview of the entertainment options on the seven-night cruise, including shows, movies, and comedy performances.
• The Newlywed Game (00:14:36): Amy shares her experience of participating in the ship’s version of the Newlywed Game, including the embarrassment and fun.
• Cruise Ship Crowds (00:16:27): Discussion of the lack of crowds on the ship and her experiences during sea days, including the availability of entertainment venues.
• Casino Experience (00:17:46): Amy shares her casino experience, including the heat and the level of smoke in the casino.
• Port of Call: Ketchikan (00:19:02): The docking situation in Ketchikan and her excursion to a rainforest wildlife sanctuary and totem park.
• Port of Call: Juneau (00:22:06): Amy talks about her bike and brewery tour in Juneau, the visit to Mendenhall Glacier, and the tram ride.
• Port of Call: Skagway (00:24:13): Discussion about the summit scenic drive, brewery visits, and the unique Alaskan liquor laws.
• Glacier Bay Viewing (00:27:59): Amy shares her experience of viewing Glacier Bay from different spots on the ship and the crowded crew pool area.
• The balcony dilemma (00:29:01): Discussion of her wish for a balcony stateroom and the price difference.
• Navigating the Gulf of Alaska (00:29:42): Amy talks about the navigation through the Gulf of Alaska and the experience at sea.
• Disembarkation logistics (00:30:27): Amy shares her experience with disembarkation, transportation options, and excursion choices.
• Alaska Tour Saver benefits (00:32:45): Discussion of the benefits of using the Alaska Tour Saver book for discounts on tours and transportation.
• Cruise ship amenities and packing tips (00:34:37): Amy talks about the amenities on the Norwegian Jewel and gives tips on packing for an Alaska cruise.
• Flight arrangements and tips (00:37:03): Amy shares her experience with flight arrangements and provides tips for finding good deals on flights.
• Cruise highlights and final thoughts (00:38:17): Amy reflects on the highlights of the cruise and shares her final thoughts on the Norwegian Jewel.