The first Delta Air Lines flight to Juneau is scheduled to arrive from Seattle at 8:49 p.m. Thursday.
After that, Delta will have one flight a day between the two cities until September. For years, Alaska Airlines has been the only carrier flying that route.
Juneau International Airport Manager Patty deLaBruere says several changes have been made to accommodate Delta, including a new jet bridge, Delta check-in counters, Delta offices, and a second baggage scanner.
The jet bridge replaces one that was more than 40 years old. Delta’s Boeing 757s are slightly taller and wider than the 737s used by Alaska Airlines. deLaBruere says the airport was able to purchase a larger bridge that’s only 12 years old. The part and installation cost $430,000 and is eligible for a federal Airport Improvement Project grant.
deLaBruere says the airport is ready for Delta’s arrival.
“It made us do a lot of changes that needed to occur anyway,” she says. “It’s always good to have an additional carrier here, that other window to the world. And I think having more carriers and just having additional business is going to be good for Juneau and good for Southeast.”
deLaBruere says competitive airfares between Alaska Airlines and Delta will likely increase the traffic within the airport.
“It’s encouraging, maybe, people to do some traveling where they weren’t going to travel before, which is good. So I think we’re going to see a few higher numbers,” she says.
An online spot check of round-trip flights between Juneau and Seattle in July show the airlines offering the same round-trip fare of $244.