Alaska Airlines Has Just Taken Off to London for the First Time, and a Boeing 737 to Iceland Is Only One Week Away

Alaska Airlines officially entered the transatlantic market today, operating its first-ever nonstop service between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and London Heathrow, marking a fundamental shift in the identity of a carrier that, until recently, had never flown passengers across the Atlantic. With daily service to Reykjavik following just seven days later on May 28, 2026, the Pacific Northwest's largest airline is completing the most ambitious phase of its European launch in rapid succession.

Alaska Airlines has officially launched daily nonstop flights between Seattle and London Heathrow, further strengthening its international expansion strategy and reinforcing its position as the fourth-largest global airline in the United States. The year-round service becomes the airline's second European destination, introduced in 2026, following the recent launch of nonstop flights to Rome. Later this month, Alaska Airlines will also inaugurate seasonal service between Seattle and Reykjavík, Iceland, continuing the rapid growth of its transatlantic network ahead of the busy summer travel season.

How Alaska Got Its Heathrow Slot

Landing at Heathrow is not simply a matter of operating a capable aircraft; it requires access to one of the world's most congested and tightly controlled slot portfolios. Having been unable to secure slots through the regulated allocation process operated by independent company Airport Coordination Limited (ACL), Alaska has reportedly entered into a slot lease agreement with partner American Airlines. The carriers have agreed that Alaska will use 14 American slots per week at Heathrow, allowing a daily return service to Seattle.

The new London Heathrow route operates from Terminal 3 and offers seamless connections to destinations across Europe and beyond through the oneworld alliance and partner carriers. Both American Airlines and British Airways, fellow oneworld members, are already well established at Terminal 3, giving Alaska's passengers a ready-made connection network from day one.

The Aircraft and the Onboard Product

The 4,800-mile flight is blocked at 9 hours 25 minutes eastbound and 9 hours 45 minutes westbound. Alaska will operate the flight with a Boeing 787-9, featuring 34 business class seats and 266 economy class seats. 

The business class suite product was inherited from Hawaiian Airlines following the 2024 acquisition. There are 34 business class suites in a 1-2-1 reverse-herringbone layout on Alaska's 787. The product was debuted by Hawaiian in 2024, and Alaska plans to replace it with a new long-haul business, premium economy and economy seats beginning in 2028. Until then, the Hawaiian suites are a comfortable option. In gray with turquoise highlights, the seats feature everything one expects in a contemporary business class suite, from a privacy door to power outlets and an 18-inch personal entertainment screen.

One notable gap in the current product is connectivity. Alaska executives acknowledge that the lack of Wi-Fi on the 787s is an issue. The plan is to install it beginning in the fall after the summer travel peak eases. With only five 787s in its fleet, Alaska simply needs all of the planes plus a spare to fly its full long-haul schedule from Seattle this summer. Alaska is set to bring ultra-fast Wi-Fi to its 787-9 aircraft in fall 2026, thanks to T-Mobile and powered by Starlink. The service will be free for Atmos Rewards members.

A 737 MAX to Iceland 

The Reykjavik service launching May 28 adds a different dimension to the story. Rather than deploying a widebody Dreamliner, Alaska has chosen the Boeing 737-8 MAX, making this one of the very few scheduled transatlantic services ever operated by a narrowbody aircraft. The 161-seat MAX 8 will be used. This has 16 recliners in first, or so-called domestic first (2-2; 41-inch pitch). On long-haul flights, this is really more equivalent to premium economy.

The airline will take off from Seattle to Keflavik on May 28. The seasonal service will run daily until September 7, which is based on departures from the US. The Reykjavik service is significantly enhanced by a bilateral codeshare agreement with Icelandair. The 3,622-mile route is blocked at 7 hours 25 minutes eastbound and 7 hours 55 minutes westbound.

An Airline Rewriting Its Own History at Speed

The London and Reykjavik launches are the second and third European routes Alaska has opened in 2026, and they follow immediately after the airline's very first transatlantic flight, to Rome, which operated on April 28 with considerable fanfare. Alaska Airlines' own employees had been so excited about the launch of the new summer seasonal route between Seattle and Rome that more than 1,100 workers attempted to use their non-rev privileges to buy massively discounted tickets to be on the first flight.

The carrier flies six 787-9s, five to operate its schedule to London, Rome, Seoul and Tokyo, plus one spare, and does not expect any additional deliveries this year. A seventh 787-9 is due in 2027, four 787-10s in 2028, and its six remaining 787 orders run from 2029 to 2032.

The airline has also marked the new era with a cultural first. Never in its 94-year history has Alaska Airlines created an onboard safety video. Until now. The new safety video will be shown prior to departure on the seatback entertainment systems of Alaska's widebody, long-haul Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. More than 100 employees are featured in the video, with an initial company-wide casting call drawing nearly 1,200 responses from employees eager to be part of this first-ever moment for Alaska.

The Strategy Behind the Expansion

The new European routes are part of Alaska Accelerate, a three-year, multi-billion-dollar expansion that aims to lift Alaska into the realm of global carriers. Chief executive Ben Minicucci aspires to transform the West Coast brand into the "fourth US global carrier". At least 12 intercontinental routes are planned from Seattle by 2030, flown by a mix of Boeing 787-9s and -10s.

As part of its long-term international growth strategy, Alaska Airlines announced plans for a new flagship lounge at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, scheduled to open in late 2027. The 41,000-square-foot facility will become the airline's largest lounge and one of the biggest in the United States, featuring premium dining, multiple bars, showers, and dedicated spaces for long-haul international travelers.

Chief Network Planner Kirsten Amrine, who boarded the inaugural Rome flight, captured the scale of the change with striking candour: 

"I remember when we would start routes to San Antonio, and Oklahoma and Minneapolis ... and that was exciting."

CEO Ben Minicucci has been equally direct about the ambition that underpins all of it: 

"We want to make sure we are the airline that brings Seattle to the world."

Alaska Airlines' new International Business Class Suites signal its transformation into a competitive long-haul carrier. Paris CDG, Madrid, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and Singapore are frequently named by analysts as likely future additions to its intercontinental network.

European Route Operations Table (Seattle Hub, Summer 2026)

AS100/AS101 operated by Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner (34 Business Class suites, 266 Economy). AS130/AS131 operated by Boeing 737-8 MAX (16 First Class recliners, 145 Economy). All European routes depart from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). London Heathrow slots are leased from American Airlines. Starlink Wi-Fi installation on 787 fleet scheduled for autumn 2026.