Why Alaska Airlines Needs California Travel To Return Advertisement: Alaska-named, Seattle-based, and California-exposed is an interesting combination. This describes no other than Alaska Airlines, which also happens to be the only carrier based on the West Coast of the United States. The airline has focused its route network along the coast, with heavy capacity and revenue devoted to California. On the carrier’s first-quarter earnings call, executives highlighted the need for state to reopen to give the carrier a real shot at profitability. Alaska Airlines is strongly betting on California. Photo: Getty Images California from a revenue perspective “We anticipate turning to profitability in Q3, and it’s worth reminding that nearly 50% of our traffic and revenues touched California on a pre-COVID basis. And as you know, California remains largely closed today. Seeing the state reopen will be a powerful near-term enabler for our path back.”