Alaska Airlines Maps Out European Debut

Alaska Airlines has revealed plans for its inaugural transatlantic route, introducing nonstop flights between Seattle and Rome.

The move marks the airline’s first foray into Europe and establishes the only direct connection between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and the Italian capital. Service to Rome Fiumicino Airport is scheduled to begin in May 2026.

“As an Italian American whose parents emigrated from Italy, this is a particularly meaningful addition to our network,” Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci says. “Rome has been at the top of the list ever since we announced our new global gateway out of Seattle.”

Flights on the 5,673-mi. (4,930-nm) route will operate four times per week using Boeing 787-9 aircraft, which became available to Alaska Airlines following its merger with Hawaiian Airlines in 2024.

While Alaska Airlines has built a strong domestic and near-international network, it lacked access to widebody aircraft until its parent company, Alaska Air Group, acquired Hawaiian Airlines in late 2024. That acquisition brought three 787-9s into the fleet, with nine more on order—providing Alaska with a platform to launch long-haul international routes for the first time.

The new Seattle-Rome route will mark Alaska’s third intercontinental service from its Pacific Northwest hub, following the launch of daily flights to Tokyo Narita in May and the planned start of Seoul Incheon service in September 2025. This forms part of the airline’s broader ambition to establish Seattle as a global gateway and to serve at least a dozen long-haul destinations by 2030. London and Paris are also thought to be under consideration.

According to Sabre Market Intelligence data, O&D traffic between Seattle and Rome totaled nearly 44,000 two-way passengers in 2024, making the Italian capital the largest unserved European destination from SEA.

Although Rome is Alaska’s first transatlantic route, the airline has signaled that much of its long-haul growth at SEA will lean toward transpacific flying. Potential cities under review include Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Manila and New Delhi.