Santa Barbara Airport and Alaska Airlines add two San Diego flights a day

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT)   Santa Barbara Airport and Alaska Airlines have teamed up to offer two flights a day to and from San Diego.

The first flight landed on April 22.

They surprised the first passengers with a celebration that included Three Cubs Cookies and Rori's Artisanal ice cream.

They also received airport souvenirs.

 Roller Skaters from Skate 05 welcomed them, too.

"I was very surprised, absolutely, it is a very short flight, it was wonderful but not until we landed were we told we were on the first flight," said Jay Minert of San Diego.

Airport Director Chis Hastert said business is good.

"Today one of our partners Alaska airlines that flies to Seattle and Portland has added San Diego service two times a day and what you might not know about Alaska, there's a ton of connections out of there and they are One World partners so we are super exited for our tourism Industry and our business travelers or just a weekend away in Santa Diego."

One business traveler who owns CalPrivate Bank told his colleagues there to greet him that they were in the air for only 36 minutes.

The airport recently added nonstop flights to Chicago.

More flights will be added in August.

For more information visit https://www.sba.gov