Expanding Horizons: Alaska Airlines’ New International Routes
Alaska Airlines is making waves in the global aviation industry with a bold expansion of its international routes. Over the past year, the airline has introduced new services from its home base in Seattle to three overseas destinations: Tokyo, Seoul, and Rome. Now, it’s set to add two more prestigious destinations to its growing list.
Starting in spring 2026, Alaska Airlines will launch two transatlantic routes from Seattle. These include daily, year-round flights to London and a seasonal summer service to Reykjavík, Iceland. This move marks a significant step in the airline’s broader strategy to enhance its international presence, following its acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines in September 2024. The merger brought in a fleet of A330s and Boeing Dreamliners, which have longer ranges than any aircraft previously in Alaska’s fleet.
Strategic Expansion and Market Opportunities
Experts believe that Alaska Airlines is leveraging its expanded capabilities to tap into new market opportunities. Gary Leff, a travel expert and founder of the blog View From the Wing, noted that Seattle is becoming a key player in this expansion. “Customers don’t have to leave them—including for their major competitor in that market, Delta—when they travel abroad,” he said.
The service to London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) will operate on a 787-9 Dreamliner. This aircraft features 34 enclosed suites with fully lie-flat seats in business class, 79 extra-legroom premium-economy seats, and 187 economy seats. Meanwhile, itineraries to Iceland’s Keflavik Airport (KEF) will use a 737 MAX 8, offering 12 recliners in first-class cabins, 30 premium-class seats, and 115 economy seats.
Both flight paths are scheduled to begin in May 2026, coinciding with the debut of Alaska’s new Rome route. The Tokyo route launched in May 2025, and the Seoul route starts on September 12, 2025.
Future Goals and Route Development
Alaska Airlines has ambitious plans to offer at least 12 intercontinental flight paths from Seattle by 2030. Scott Keyes, founder and chief flight expert at Going.com, emphasized that Seattle is the big winner in the merger between Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines. “The northwest hub is enjoying a bevy of new routes to long-haul destinations,” he said.
While Alaska has had extensive partnerships with other airlines, allowing customers to use miles on Oneworld carriers like American Airlines and British Airways, as well as non-alliance carriers like Condor and Icelandair, the acquisition of a widebody fleet through the purchase of Hawaiian Airlines has enabled the company to rethink its route map.
“They’re beginning to populate a route map that serves where their customers fly, but they didn’t use to take them,” Leff explained. “London makes sense because it has long been among the most lucrative, important business markets in the world. Reykjavík is a destination they can reach with a smaller Boeing 737 MAX. It’s less expensive to fly, requires fewer passengers to make money, and is a hot seasonal route in the summertime.”
New Aircraft Livery and Branding
In addition to announcing the new routes, Alaska Airlines unveiled a new design for the livery of its 787-9 aircraft. The special-edition paint job replaces the Indigenous man who was seen on the tail of Alaska’s fleet for a decade. Instead, the design features rippling bands of deep blue and electric green, echoing the aurora borealis, a nod to the carrier’s namesake state.
Bailey Berg, a Colorado-based freelance travel writer and editor, has covered breaking news, travel trends, air travel, sustainability, and outdoor adventure. Her work has appeared in outlets such as the New York Times and National Geographic. She is a regular contributor to MathHotels.com.
