A New Flight to Alaska Will Drop You Under the Midnight Sun (Literally)

Getting to Alaska is probably easier than most people think, with direct flights to Anchorage from major cities like Seattle, DC, LA, Denver, and Chicago, to name just a few. But the Land of the Midnight Sun is getting even easier to reach in summer 2026, thanks to multiple new flights on major US airlines.

The biggest headline comes from Southwest Airlines, which announced it will fly to Alaska for the first time, starting on May 15, 2026. The flights will run daily from both Denver and Las Vegas and are expected to run through September 15, coinciding with Alaska’s busy tourist season. From Denver, the nonstop flight will take approximately 5 hours and 45 minutes, with the nonstop flight from Las Vegas being just a few minutes shorter. As of early May, one-way tickets from Denver start around $188, though most days are closer to $276.

While the Southwest news may be the most exciting for a larger group of people, a new flight to Anchorage from Phoenix, Arizona, may appeal to a certain type of traveler — those dedicated to seeing the actual midnight sun. The new route will connect Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport with Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, running May 21 through September 8, 2026.

Photo: David Syphers/Shutterstock

The flight time is approximately 6 hours and departs Phoenix at 7 PM, meaning travelers will arrive in Alaska right around midnight. Since the state enjoys about 22 hours of sun on its longest days of summer, those traveling from Phoenix will want to make sure they have their sunglasses in their carry-on bags. While there’s certainly novelty value, it may also help visitors make the most of their time there, as most people will naturally adjust their sleeping schedule based on daylight. So you may end up spending less time sleeping, and more time exploring.

Travelers located a little further north than Phoenix or Las Vegas also have new flight options. Alaska Airlines announced late last year more than a dozen new routes, including direct flights to Anchorage from Boise, Idaho; Spokane, Washington; and Boston, Massachusetts.

Travelers keen to visit parts of Alaska other than Anchorage are also in luck, as a handful of airlines are resuming seasonal routes to Fairbanks and Juneau. Delta is bringing back its seasonal Minneapolis-to-Fairbanks route, and United will restart seasonal service to Fairbanks from both Chicago and Denver. There’s also one new option for Juneau, which isn’t connected by road to the rest of Alaska. To visit, you’ll be able to fly direct from Seattle on Delta this summer (or catch a flight on Alaska Airlines, which also serves Juneau from Seattle year-round).

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