Seattle’s hometown airline has its eyes set firmly on the other side of the pond. Alaska Airlines, fresh off a major acquisition and expanding its international playbook, is kicking off two brand-new European routes just in time for peak summer travel season in 2026.
London Calling, Reykjavík Rising
Starting in May 2026, Alaska Airlines is launching daily, year-round service to London Heathrow and a seasonal summer service to Iceland’s capital, Reykjavík, from its Seattle hub. These routes join a growing stable of long-haul options that also includes Tokyo, Seoul, and Rome.
Flights to London will feature the Boeing 787-9 aircraft, inherited from Hawaiian Airlines via a merger finalized in late 2024. These aircraft bring a new level of polish to Alaska’s international offering: expect 34 lie-flat seats in business class, 79 premium economy seats with ample legroom, and 187 standard economy seats to round out the cabin.
As for Reykjavik, that route will be flown by the Boeing 737 MAX 8—a plane better known for its short- and medium-haul chops. It’ll offer 12 first-class recliners, 30 premium class seats, and 115 in economy. Unlike the Dreamliners, this flight will be seasonal for now, likely reflecting the spike in summer tourism to the land of fire and ice.
Of note, the Iceland flights are shorter in segment length but still a significant eight-hour commitment especially for those paying for a business class seat but receiving a domestic first class. The Airbus A320 family aircraft, notably the A321-XLR and A321-NEO have been equipped by many carriers for long haul operations to include 1-1 business class configurations with lie-flat seats. There are few operators doing the same with Boeing 737s, Dubai Air being one of them. If Iceland is a success, this could be a great test bed to introduce a premium lie-flat business class product more widely to Boeing 737 fleets.
Alaska Airlines Europe Ambitions
According to Scott Keyes of Going.com, it’s not Alaska or Hawaiian that’s winning the merger game, it’s Seattle. And he’s not wrong. With all the long-range aircraft newly at its disposal and a firm base of operations at SEA, Alaska is turning its once-domestic portfolio into a showpiece of Pacific Northwest global connectivity. The carrier has said it plans to run at least 12 intercontinental routes from Seattle by 2030.
The airline will be a major force on the west coast.
Is It the Plane or the Plan?
Before scooping up Hawaiian, Alaska could only dream of international service like this. But now, armed with a handful of mid-life A330s and shiny new 787-9 Dreamliners, Alaska’s got the wingspan to match its ambitions.
Gary Leff of View From the Wing noted, “They’re beginning to populate a route map that serves where their customers fly, but they didn’t use to take them.” He’s got a point. London is one of the world’s most sought-after business markets, and Iceland is riding high on the travel bucket list for adventure seekers.
And thanks to codeshares and alliance ties—think American Airlines, British Airways, Condor, and Icelandair, Alaska can now be both a connector and a full-fledged global contender.
A Fresh Coat of Paint
These new routes aren’t the only thing getting an upgrade. The long-haul Dreamliners will shed their Hawaiian identity and get a unique Alaska-branded livery. The new look drops the familiar Alaskan native face on the tail in favor of aurora borealis-inspired swirls of deep blue and electric green—a nod to the airline’s heritage and its northern roots.
Conclusion
Alaska Airlines’ jump across the Atlantic feels fresh, strategic, and undeniably ambitious. Long confined to domestic and near-international flights, the airline is seizing its new hardware and steadily reengineering its service to meet customers where they want to go. And for Seattle-based flyers? It’s shaping up to be a golden age to live in the Pacific Northwest.
So whether you’re eyeing Big Ben or a soak in an Icelandic hot spring, 2026 might be the time to fly Alaska farther than ever before.
