More seasonal flights return to Palm Springs as Valley tourism season ramps up
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Coachella Valley’s busy tourism season is taking off earlier this year, with some seasonal flights returning to Palm Springs International Airport weeks, and in some cases, months ahead of last year.
Airport officials say the earlier return of seasonal service is helping stretch the region’s travel season, giving both residents and visitors more options for a longer portion of the year.
“We’re seeing several of those seasonal returns earlier than last year, weeks and even months in some cases,” PSP spokesperson Jake Ingrassia said. “Which is fantastic because more options and more traveling for anybody who wants to get here or get from here.”
Palm Springs International Airport is coming off a record-setting 2025, when more than 3.3 million passengers traveled through the airport. Ingrassia said 2026 passenger numbers are currently slightly below last year’s record pace, but the airport is still experiencing one of its strongest years on record.
Last season, PSP added five new nonstop routes, including United Airlines service to Newark, American Airlines service to Charlotte, Alaska Airlines service to Santa Rosa and two new nonstop options to Austin. Those routes are returning this season, with some coming back earlier than they did last year.
For travelers, having more nonstop options can make the difference between an easy trip and an additional connection.
Allison Hume told News Channel 3 she travels to the Coachella Valley four or five times a year to visit friends in La Quinta and Rancho Mirage. She described traveling through PSP as “easy peasy,” but said getting to Palm Springs from Reno still requires two flights.
“We’d like you guys to get a direct flight,” Hume said.
Hume said the airport’s convenience is one of the reasons she enjoys using it, pointing to easy rental car access, security and navigation through the terminal.
That access is also becoming increasingly important to hotels across the Valley.
Dan Johnson, general manager of the Grand Hyatt Indian Wells Resort and Villas, said additional nonstop flights provide a significant boost to occupancy and help resorts compete with other warm-weather destinations.
“We are very encouraged,” Johnson said. “Q4 and Q1 are well ahead of pace versus same time last year.”
Johnson said additional nonstop service can be especially important for group and conference travel, where planners are often considering both cost and travel time when deciding where to hold an event. Direct service from key markets can make the Coachella Valley an easier choice.
He also wants to see the traditional tourism season expand beyond the winter and early spring months.
Johnson said the period from roughly mid-November through festival season in April is already strong, but believes additional flights could help grow tourism during the “shoulder” months in late spring and early fall.
Strong demand is also showing up at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa.
General Manager Nusrat Mirza said the property is seeing strong bookings through the end of the year and into the beginning of next year.
“We are having an amazing year,” Mirza said. “Probably I would say, the best year in the history of the hotel since we opened. We’ve been here for 40 years.”
Mirza said both conference and leisure travel are contributing to that growth. He said conference visitors often extend their trips or bring family members with them, creating additional spending outside the resort at restaurants, shops and other attractions throughout the Valley.
For local tourism leaders, the impact stretches far beyond hotel rooms and airport terminals.
PSP says travelers generated more than $2.55 billion in total economic impact in 2025. More than $1.1 billion was spent by PSP travelers in local communities, including at hotels, restaurants, shops and attractions.
Airport activity also supported more than 16,500 jobs last year, according to PSP. Ingrassia said that includes not only airport employees, but workers throughout the hospitality industry and other businesses that depend on visitor spending.
The connection between tourism and employment is also being felt inside the Valley’s resorts.
Mirza said the JW Marriott now employs more people than it did before the COVID-19 pandemic. With 884 rooms, two golf courses, a spa and other amenities, he said stronger tourism demand translates directly into more work for local employees.
“The more business we have, the more work they have and the more money in their pockets,” Mirza said.
Johnson made a similar connection, saying higher occupancy creates greater job security and can help resorts retain employees throughout the year.
“If we deliver strong tourism, job security advances,” Johnson said, adding that year-round employee retention helps create a better experience for visitors as well.
Airport officials say airline decisions ultimately depend on demand. Ingrassia said carriers continually evaluate where to place aircraft and whether individual routes are being used enough to justify extending seasonal service or potentially making it year-round.
He encouraged local travelers to consider using PSP when possible, saying passenger demand can help demonstrate to airlines that the market can support additional service.
For airport and hotel leaders, the next opportunity is extending the Valley’s tourism momentum even further – bringing more flights, visitors and tourism dollars to the region for more months of the year.
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