Alaska Airlines is launching new international routes from Seattle to London Heathrow and Reykjavik, Iceland with service starting in May 2026.
- London Heathrow will be operated daily, year-round with a Boeing 787-9. This features the excellent Hawaiian Airlines new business product.
- Reykjavik will be summer seasonal daily flying with a Boeing 737-8 MAX. While Alaska partners with Icelandair, this route will primarily be about Iceland as a summer destination. A 737 MAX should be able to make the 3,631 mile flight but that is an absolute long time in a narrowbody!
Currently, British Airways operates two Seattle flights. Both Delta and Virgin fly the route as well. American Airlines could not make it work even in partnership with Alaska. American had planned to fly Seattle to Bangalore, Shanghai and London but no longer operates long haul from Seattle.
BA offers Alaska connectivity beyond London, and Alaska itself has the best connectivity in Seattle. And if they’re going to fly long haul they almost have to fly to London. But this is a competitive route.
Already Alaska has commenced long haul service to Tokyo, and starts flying to Seoul in mid-September. They launch Seattle – Rome in spring 2026. They’re clearly making very different use of the assets they acquired from Hawaiian Airlines than Hawaiian did, as expected.
Alaska is painting their 787-9s with a new livery, debuting in January, with the fleet to fully be in this new design by spring.
Their A330s which remain based in Honolulu, too, will get new seats in all cabins.
I’m gonna say it… that aircraft… looks ‘hot.’ Like, me like-y. Nice paint. Happy to see more ‘premium’ out there. Hope it goes well for them. It’s a ‘win’ for One World, too. And if BILT survives, might be worth transferring more of their points to AS.
If they were to offer kosher or other special meals, I might give them a try if the price were right.
just highlights how AA is the loser in all of this; the SEA network that AA thought they would build is going to be flown by AS on its own metal which means that AA will lose more of its position on the west coast. AS is obviously shooting for participation in the oneworld JVs and the US will not allow AA and AS to participate in the same JVs.
@Tim Dunn
What SEA network by AA? They did look into it with maybe flying to LHR and India and decided not to do it. The merger between AK and HA gives them access to those WB jets now. There’s no room for a third major player in SEA.
Of course, AA decided not to fly SEA across both the Atlantic and Pacific but AA most definitely talked about adding SEA to lots of international destinations as part of their relationship with AS.
and AS is or would be the 4th or 5th carrier in most of the longhaul SEA international markets where they just decided they want to fly after being “just a domestic airline” for decades.
@1990 – Polished aluminum and clear coats need to make a comeback.
I don’t recall the first time I saw an AS plane, I do recall going WTF!! Confusing, who, why, that man on its tail-feather … SW at least had a whale for a while. (Save the whales, collect the entire set …) with AS about to fly intercontinental it’s time for a new look. Looks great!
@Tim that is an absolute absurd take. Participate in the JV’s AS is connecting one city with OW hubs. American flys to TYO from DFW, JFK, LAX and to LHR from every major hub and some secondary cities. If you think that the JV will be replaced with an airline with little connectivity outside Seattle you’re insane. DL is going to get its lunch eaten in SEA and knowing this administration who knows if AS will be barred from joining a JV. You have multiple Euro carriers on one JV I don’t see why multiple American Companies cant. I honestly want whatever your smoking and the location of where to buy it because it must be some high grade stuff.
@PM
I wonder what the executives and employees of Spirit and JetBlue think of the “auto pen” administration?
Where did they get their Heathrow slot?
PM.
try reading.
The US will not allow two US airlines to have JVs on the same ROUTE as part of the same JV.
If AS is admitted to the oneworld JVs for SEA flights, AA will lose the ability to be a part of the JV ON SEA flights to the same foreign destination.
and, no, there are not multiple foreign airlines OPERATING on the same route in the same JV. From SEA, one foreign and/or one US airline operate on every route.
@Tim try writing a little more descriptive. You initial statement does not say that its the SAME ROUTE. “AS is obviously shooting for participation in the oneworld JVs and the US will not allow AA and AS to participate in the same JVs.”
Clearly stated as the same JVs. Not route. Don’t try to paint my statement commenting on your failure to include your complete thought or really backtracking and gaslighting. At the end of the day with AS going long haul AA can use its wide frames elsewhere and have the same connectivity as they would had they started long haul out of SEA. Go back to trying to sell masses on DL because your clearly out of your element here.
@Coffee we could go all day about failures of all administrations. My point was on this current admin being more merger and consolidation friendly. This is the same admin that gave us the NEA. JetBlue and Spirit is an entirely different animal which we can discuss at lengths about the pros and cons. That is as far as my political statements will go, trying to keep it focused on airline news.
@Denver Refugee — Ah, so, you prefer them to be ‘all natural.’ Niccce.
@Coffee Please — Tim’s correct; #45/47 is far more conducive to mergers, so long as those companies ‘bend the knee,’ rule of law be damned (pay your $1 million bribe, folks!) Yes, #44 and #46 were more willing to enforce laws against anti-competitive practices; probably was better for us consumers, but not always ‘best’ for the capital class or management who wants to profit off those big deals. None of this should be a surprise to you or anyone; feel free to try to make it partisan, but the establishment within both parties remains pro-corporation. *sigh*
Regarding length of time in a narrowbody, aren’t the A321XLRs designed for much longer flight times?
People will still have the option to make a connection if they don’t want to spend as much time on one flight, but I think the better yields will go for the nonstop.
Nice looking paint job.
1990
it’s not about whether the red or blue team is more business friendly; the US has had pretty consistent airline antitrust policy regardless of administration.
A joint venture involves joint capacity planning, pricing and yield management. It is impossible for two US airlines to do the same function on the same route without sharing fairly extensive internal information and doing so would be anticompetitive.
Given that AA, AS and many foreign carriers use origin and destination revenue management systems which forecast demand on hundreds of possible connecting possibilities, it is problematic for AA and AS to even be a part of the same JV for some overlapping O&Ds that could be served over SEA on AS or AA or BA over other gateways.
BA is already the largest TATL carrier by number of flights served from one city while AS is particularly strong in the Pacific Northwest.
It is very likely that the US will allow AS to join oneworld JVs but at the expense of AA’s presence on not just the SEA flight JV but perhaps even some markets where the combination of AA, AS and BA have high market share which includes many cities in the western US.
@Tim Dunn — I respect your positions here; I just think the ‘game’ may have changed. Previously, both red and blue had their nuances, but each still followed a somewhat ‘good faith’ approach to these laws and norms. We’re entering a totally different paradigm, if it lasts, where the de jure means nothing, when de facto is whatever the king says it is. So, only half-joking, if anyone wants a merger, they should fly down to Palm Beach, and pay the $1 mil. Otherwise, good luck with that…
Delta’s days are numbered in SEA.
Alaska will destroy them.
@Tim Dunn, how are you gonna spin this? Oh wait you’re already trying to pin it on bad news for “AA” of all people.
Sea was already a money losing hub for delta, the worst not just for delta but for all airlines in the US!!
Now that Alaska is taking what little edge delta had they will probably dehub it and pull out like they did in, DFW, CVG, MIA and all the rest of the cities they cut and run from.
@Walter Barry — You are not a serious person. Delta’s doing just fine at SEA; second largest carrier at the airport, just opened the new DeltaOne lounge. You know nothing.
1990,
there really isn’t any evidence that the US’ approach to airline antitrust has changed. People want to believe it has.
and remember that the NEA came down in part because of lawsuits filed by states and not just the DOT.
Even if the DOJ changes its approach – which again, has not happened publicly, states can and will continue to look out for their own financial interests.
Walter,
you would love to think that DL will suffer but the reality is that DL has managed to remain a viable presence in SEA for years.
It is certain that AS will be a stronger partner in the oneworld JVs from the PNW than AA was but that doesn’t change that AS is still competing from a position of weakness in several major routes including ICN. even to continental Europe, AS will be at a disadvantage having AA, DL and UA JVs with hubs further east which means they can siphon off traffic if they believe there is a risk to their presence.
AS can’t even figure out that an airline called Alaska flying to SEA will be confusing to anyone outside of the PNW.
The fact that they ditched a global brand – Virgin – and are trying to justify their brand arrogance and ignorance – tells you everything you need to know about their ability to compete in global markets.
80% of passengers on US carriers’ international flights are Americans. AS has 55% market share (passengers) in SEA compared to DL at 27%. SEA is a spoke city for AA, but they are the big loser? Are they the big loser with AS’s SEA-ICN and SEA-NRT flights Also? Too funny.
Livery looks nice! Northern lights-esque.
Iceland on a 737, not so nice, but could see myself trying it.
@TD,
AA hasn’t operated SEA-LHR for a couple years now. I used to fly it, lots of cargo not so many passengers. Your comments re @PM are way off base. There is no JV problem.
Secondly, the DOJ, when unraveling the AA- B6 NEA said if it were arranged like the AA- AS deal it would have not been challenged.
Delta will get smoked in SEA.
@1990, how far up Tim Dunns ass could one possibly be? Or are you an alter ego as he has in other sites?
Now, as to the new paint scheme. I see AS doing the same “reimagined” livery with HA. Waves instead of northern lights etc.. The heads are a thing of the past, and a good way to closer align the two brands.
@TIM DUNN
Tim, Sometimes I appreciate your comments. I really do as you are a smart fellow.
Yet these today show your complete & total misunderstanding about what is going on in Seattle. There was always a plan “B” for American in SEA. And the proof is in what Alaska is doing right now. Their actions were planned YEARS ago with American. Their joining oneWorld was planned YEARS ago. If you saw like I have, sat next to them on the plane like I have, the amount of Alaska executives going back and forth to DFW American headquarters you’d finally GET IT. Who in the f””” do you think is behind all of this? Please wake up, have some Seattles Best & smell the coffee for once. As my mom always said, “Geez, Lois.”
john mc
AA and AS do not have a joint venture and CANNOT LEGALLY discuss joint strategies so – if you are certain that what you assert has taken place, then we have the basis for a case with the DOJ’s antitrust folks,
In reality, AA recognized it couldn’t compete on the west coast and AA and AS have been doing a legal dance that made it clear that AA would support AS -but none of that changes that AA and AS cannot be in the same JV on the same route unless the DOJ changes its lifelong requirements, which they are not likely to do because it would require collusion which no other two US airlines are allowed to do.
If AA-AS are ok in a JV, then DL and WN could well start “cooperating” in Houston and Dallas.
“Northern Lights Livery” is an almost success with me and i am sure with a little ”near brand word mark tweaking,” it will be a full success with me. It’s traditional but modern, sleek but not cheeky, Oceanically Romy Michelle when in a Hawaiian hue, and all go big Alaska but still Northwestern.
Definitely stylistically Alaska and fittingly cross company cohesive in another shade as well.
Way to go Alaskan (;
@Tim D,
I think what you are trying to say is that the AS SEA-LHR flight cannot carry the AA codeshare? Is that it? While the AA codeshare can continue on the BA flights?
So in that line, AS couldn’t market the BA SEA-LHR flights either, because the AA codeshare can is already there.
UA hasn’t marketed B6 JFK-LHR flights, yet.
Great, flying to London, what’s new? That’s so basic, why not somewhere more fun? I understand the ‘competition’ but if BA already has that route, should try some other secondary city. Nothing to write about for a city and a country where they still cannot accept the sun has set.
@Pilot93434 — Bah, I’ll only use ‘1990’ on here. Tim’s his own man; and while I do prefer Delta as a passenger and an ‘elite’ these days (I still think their program rewards Platinums and Diamonds better than UA or AA does its equivalents), Tim and I differ on one key topic: unions. I continue to believe Delta’s FAs and baggage handlers should organize, yet he’s clearly not in-favor of that, because it’d probably harm stock performance in the short term. Generally, I tend to be concerned with worker advocacy and consumer protections than corporate profits.