Alaska Airways is ramping up its international growth in a giant manner.
The Seattle-based service on Tuesday introduced its two latest worldwide locations out of the Pacific Northwest. And the growth contains flights to one of many high cities in Europe.
Alaska additionally unveiled an all-new search for the planes that can carry passengers to its farthest abroad locations.
It is the most recent chapter in a world growth the airline launched earlier this 12 months following its 2024 acquisition of Hawaiian Airways — and one that can imply new journey choices for West Coast flyers, and redemption alternatives for members of its common loyalty program.
Route maps: Essentially the most thrilling new airline routes of 2025 (up to now)
New London and Iceland flights
First, let’s get to the most important and most necessary information for vacationers: Alaska will launch two new flights to Europe from Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport (SEA) starting in 2026:
- Heathrow Airport (LHR) in London
- Keflavik Airport (KEF) in Reykjavik
Each routes will launch in the course of the spring months.
Alaska’s new Iceland service
Alaska will fly its Iceland service with a narrow-body Boeing 737 MAX 8 in the course of the peak summer season journey season. That plane sports activities 12 recliners within the first-class cabin, together with 30 of its extra-legroom Premium-class seats.
Each day Publication
Reward your inbox with the TPG Each day publication
Be a part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s specialists
These flights will certainly be on the lengthy facet on board a single-aisle MAX 8, at greater than seven hours.
Alaska’s Seattle-to-London service
As for Alaska’s new Heathrow service, the airline is planning every day, year-round flights connecting passengers to Europe’s busiest airport — which doubles as a serious hub for Alaska’s Oneworld alliance companions.
“It is London, it is the crown jewel of the community, it is the No. 1 vacation spot out of Seattle,” Kirsten Amrine, Alaska’s vice chairman of income administration and community planning, advised TPG, noting a mean of 400 passengers journey every day between the 2 cities.
Collectively, these new U.Ok. and Iceland flights will add to a fast-growing listing of long-haul routes for Alaska Air Group out of its Seattle residence base; that features Tokyo service launched in Could (operated, for now, by Hawaiian Airways), with Seoul, South Korea, and Rome on the horizon.
It is a large shift for Alaska, an airline lengthy recognized for all home and short-haul worldwide flying.
And the service has determined a new-look route map requires a new-look aircraft.
Alaska’s new long-haul look
As a part of its international announcement Tuesday, Alaska mentioned it can debut a brand-new paint scheme for the Boeing 787 Dreamliners it can fly on most of its long-haul routes — together with these new London flights.
These Dreamliners — the primary twin-aisle planes in Alaska’s fleet — will characteristic a shimmering blue-and-green paint scheme meant to resemble the aurora borealis, or northern lights, often seen within the airline’s namesake state. Up close to the entrance of the plane is the acquainted “Alaska” branding in navy blue.
“We would have liked one thing that felt trendy, international and premium,” Alaska Vice President of Model and Advertising and marketing Eric Edge mentioned, talking to the change. “That is probably the most premium, flagship expression of our model.”
Alaska’s plan is to sport this livery on its 787s, whereas preserving its conventional tail design on the remainder of its fleet.
Plans for Alaska and Hawaiian come into focus
As Alaska ramps up its long-haul service, that can have implications for its new sister airline.
The Dreamliners it is planning to fly on these new worldwide routes are the identical ones that Hawaiian, its new sister airline, had ordered earlier than the 2 carriers merged final 12 months.
These jets, which Hawaiian debuted final 12 months, characteristic stunning cabins, together with 34 non-public business-class suites up entrance.
Quickly, these planes will lose their Hawaiian branding and get repainted with Alaska’s brand-new worldwide livery. That is anticipated to be accomplished for every of the corporate’s present Dreamliners by April 2026.
Because the service receives extra Dreamliners, these will go proper into service as Alaska-branded planes — and because the linchpin of Alaska’s international aspirations out of SEA.
Learn extra: Alaska Airways upgrades Seattle-Tokyo route with Hawaiian’s new Boeing 787 Dreamliner
2 airways, 1 firm
What does all this imply for Hawaiian?
In any case, it nonetheless wants large planes for its flights between the U.S. mainland and Hawaii — to not point out its flights to Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.
Alaska Air Group’s plan is for Hawaiian to function long-haul service with its older, legacy fleet of Airbus A330s as the 2 airways proceed to keep up distinct manufacturers.
Whereas which will sound like dangerous information for loyal Hawaiian clients, we should always word that executives reiterated plans to provide these Hawaiian A330 cabins a (much-needed) makeover. That may apparently embrace a brand new business-class product and, for the primary time, a real premium economic system cabin.
“Our intention is to make the Airbus expertise as premium and industry-leading because the Dreamliners,” Alaska Vice President of Communications Alexa Rudin advised TPG final week.
Hawaiian’s livery will stay unchanged.
Nonetheless to return
London, Reykjavik and a brand new 787 paint scheme aren’t the top of Alaska’s large wave of adjustments.
The service has mentioned it is planning to announce an all-new flagship worldwide expertise for purchasers flying its long-haul routes — one which, presumably, would contain greater than a brand new design for the skin of its planes.
Earlier than that, the corporate is predicted to announce a brand-new loyalty program later this month, which might cowl each the Alaska and Hawaiian airline manufacturers.
Associated studying:
