Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci announced today that starting in 2026, the Seattle-based airline would begin long-haul flights from Seattle to Europe (as I previously predicted right here). They've already announced new trans-Pacific nonstops from Seattle to Tokyo and Seoul (Tokyo flights start next week, Seoul flights start in September) and have shared general plans to make Seattle their "global hub." I believe this is the first time they have publicly stated their specific intent to fly to Europe (though they have kind of teased the idea previously) - a big step for this once-local (then regional) airline that is clearly in growth mode. Flights to Europe are now slated begin next year - specific destinations to be announced later.
As I mentioned in a previous speculation about Alaska flying to Europe, lots of European cities should be in range of Alaska's new widebody jets which they are in the process of acquiring (buying Hawaiian airlines moved Alaska to near the front of the line for deliveries of 787s, a line which otherwise would be many years long). So we don't yet know exactly where in Europe Alaska will fly next year, but I'd guess London, Dublin, Edinburgh, Paris, Berlin, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Oslo, and pretty much anywhere in the northern parts of Europe are likely destinations.
Article in today's Seattle Times: CEO Ben Minicucci: Alaska will fly Sea-Tac to Europe in 2026
This is great news for Seattle residents and all travelers from the Pacific Northwest (including RSE staff!) who will soon have more nonstop options to Europe from the hometown airline. Personally, I've been predicting this for years, fantasizing about it for decades. Even if you are not an Alaska Airlines fan, it's great to see this airline expanding and providing some competition on these routes. More nonstops to Europe (and Asia) are always welcome around here.
Great news for lots of us! (At times like this, I really miss the thumbs-up emoji...).
