The Essentials

Nonstop Flights Are Disappearing

If you’re like me, you love a nonstop flight between Point A and Point B. 

But a growing number of U.S. cities lack nonstop service, especially to or from the West Coast. For example, Los Angeles to Milwaukee? No nonstop. Hartford, Connecticut, to San Francisco? Also no nonstop.


Other missing nonstop routes include Tucson, Arizona, to Washington, D.C., and Cleveland to San Diego. Despite strong passenger demand, these routes are still not available. The result: longer connecting flights and, in most cases, higher airfares.


But there’s hope! This year, Alaska Airlines is launching new nonstop flights from New Orleans to Portland and Boise to Orlando. Southwest Airlines is also introducing nonstop service from Sacramento to Kansas City.