Alaska Airways is ramping up its world enlargement in an enormous manner.
The Seattle-based provider on Tuesday introduced its two latest worldwide locations out of the Pacific Northwest. And the enlargement consists of flights to one of many prime 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 enlargement the airline launched earlier this year 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 popular loyalty program.
Route maps: The most exciting new airline routes of 2025 (so far)
New London and Iceland flights
First, let’s get to the largest and most vital 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.
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These flights will certainly be on the lengthy aspect 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, informed TPG, noting a median of 400 passengers journey every day between the 2 cities.
Collectively, these new U.Okay. and Iceland flights will add to a fast-growing record of long-haul routes for Alaska Air Group out of its Seattle residence base; that features Tokyo service launched in May (operated, for now, by Hawaiian Airways), with Seoul, South Korea, and Rome on the horizon.
It is a massive shift for Alaska, an airline lengthy recognized for all home and short-haul worldwide flying.
And the provider has determined a new-look route map requires a new-look airplane.
Alaska’s new long-haul look
As a part of its world announcement Tuesday, Alaska stated it should debut a brand-new paint scheme for the Boeing 787 Dreamliners it should 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 function a shimmering blue-and-green paint scheme meant to resemble the aurora borealis, or northern lights, ceaselessly 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, world and premium,” Alaska Vice President of Model and Advertising Eric Edge stated, chatting with 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 conserving 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 yr.
These jets, which Hawaiian debuted last year, function lovely 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 provider receives extra Dreamliners, these will go proper into service as Alaska-branded planes — and because the linchpin of Alaska’s world aspirations out of SEA.
Learn extra: Alaska Airlines 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 massive 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 that will sound like dangerous information for loyal Hawaiian clients, we must always observe that executives reiterated plans to offer these Hawaiian A330 cabins a (much-needed) makeover. That can apparently embrace a brand new business-class product and, for the primary time, a true premium economy cabin.
“Our intention is to make the Airbus expertise as premium and industry-leading because the Dreamliners,” Alaska Vice President of Communications Alexa Rudin informed TPG final week.
Hawaiian’s livery will stay unchanged.
Nonetheless to return
London, Reykjavik and a brand new 787 paint scheme aren’t the tip of Alaska’s massive wave of adjustments.
The provider has stated it is planning to announce an all-new flagship international experience for patrons flying its long-haul routes — one which, presumably, would contain greater than a brand new design for the surface of its planes.
Earlier than that, the corporate is anticipated to announce a brand-new loyalty program later this month, which might cowl each the Alaska and Hawaiian airline manufacturers.
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