CEO Ben Minicucci confirmed that Alaska Airlines will launch its first European route from Seattle in 2026. The route marks the airline’s first European expansion and follows its \$1.9 billion merger with Hawaiian Airlines. Finalized in September, that deal has jumpstarted Alaska’s international ambitions and widened its access to long-haul infrastructure.
The company plans to add 12 international nonstop routes from Seattle by 2030, using widebody aircraft to access new markets. Flights to Seoul and Tokyo have already been announced and are scheduled for September and this week. Hawaiian’s prior experience and airport presence in Asia made these routes possible.
The European route remains unnamed, but Minicucci feels confident about demand among Seattle travelers for new global options. He stressed that the airline thrives by taking calculated risks and embracing growth.
Kirsten Amrine, Alaska’s vice president of network planning, described route selection as both science and art. Data helps forecast demand and pricing, but intuition about traveler preferences often drives final decisions. Her team backed the Seattle–Belize route based on trends rather than numbers, and demand tripled.
Alaska Airlines will rely on Airbus A330 jets inherited from Hawaiian Airlines for the route, marking a departure from its “Proudly All Boeing” identity. These widebodies offer the range needed for transatlantic service and will be based in Honolulu. The airline expects twelve Boeing 787 Dreamliner by 2028 for future long-haul operations.
Alaska plans to unify frequent flyer programs and secure a single FAA certificate by year-end to finalize its merger integration. A shared reservation system is expected by mid-2026, with workforce integration targeted for 2027. Despite merging operations, Alaska and Hawaii will retain separate branding. Minicucci emphasized the need to preserve Hawaiian cultural identity.
