By Khalida Sarwari
Mineta San Jose International Airport is offering Silicon Valley residents with wanderlust several new travel options in the coming months beginning with the launch of nonstop service to a popular ski resort this week.
Horizon Air launched its first direct flight carrying 76 passengers to a ski resort in Mammoth Mountain aboard the Bombardier Q400s aircraft Thursday.
The 55-minute flight cuts travel time by up to nine hours, allowing skiers and snowboarders more time to play. Fares start at $69.
The daily nonstop service ends April 11.
JetBlue Airways announced it will resume daily nonstop service to Boston’s Logan International Airport beginning May 13 with one-way fares starting at $99. Flights depart at 9 p.m. and arrive in Boston at 5:30 a.m.
In March, Alaska Airlines will launch service to the islands of Maui and Kona in Hawaii and also add a second daily flight to Austin, Texas. Also in March, Horizon Air will begin service to Spokane, Wash., and an additional flight to Sacramento.
David Vossbrink, spokesman for Mineta San Jose International Airport, said the airport lost 25 percent of its flights over the last two years due to increasing fuel costs and the recession.
“We’re hopeful that the new flights we’re seeing is an indicator that we’ll be seeing more flights and more traffic coming back to San Jose,” Vossbrink said.