Travel industry officials say new airline flights to Alaska this summer may lower fares

New airline flights to Alaska may lower fares

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Travel industry officials say more airline flights to Alaska this summer may boost competition and result in lower fares to some Lower 48 cities.

The Anchorage Daily News says Continental, United and US Airways all plan to add daily nonstop service between Anchorage and Portland, Chicago, San Francisco and Philadelphia. From Fairbanks, Delta plans a new flight to Salt Lake City and Frontier adds a flight to Denver. trip to Denver and Salt Lake City. No flights are being added, however, to Seattle, a major transfer hub for Alaskans.

Industry officials say the added competition should drop air fares as the new flights are added in May and June.