Alaska Airlines Builds Transatlantic Presence With London, Reykjavik Routes

Fresh from unveiling its first European flights, Alaska Airlines is further expanding its transatlantic footprint with the launch of two new nonstop routes from Seattle to London and Reykjavik, starting in spring 2026.

The new service connecting Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and London Heathrow Airport will operate daily year-round using Boeing 787-9 aircraft, while flights to Reykjavik’s Keflavik Airport will run daily during the summer season onboard 737-8s.

“These bold moves … are accelerating our vision to connect our guests to the world,” Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci says. “We are seizing this moment to redefine the international experience and level up.”

The airline has not disclosed how it acquired slots at capacity-constrained London Heathrow—although they have potentially been accessed via Oneworld alliance partners British Airways or American Airlines. The Seattle–London market is currently served by British Airways, Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic, with about 14,700 two-way weekly seats, according to OAG Schedules Analyser data.

Alaska expects its new service to appeal to both business and leisure travelers, with connectivity across its West Coast network and partner airlines. The carrier also emphasized the importance of the route for passengers from Alaska and Hawaii, who will benefit from expanded options to reach Europe via Seattle.

The Reykjavik route will operate seasonally, competing with Icelandair’s existing triple-daily operation between the cities, which provides nearly 8,000 two-way weekly seats. Reykjavik will serve both as a leisure destination and a connection point into continental Europe.

Alaska is building out its 787 operations at Seattle, with plans to deploy up to 17 widebody aircraft by the end of the decade. The carrier currently operates four 787-9s and will open a new pilot base in Seattle to support the aircraft type beginning in spring 2026.

Alaska Air Group’s 2024 acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines provided the carrier with access to widebody aircraft for the first time, accelerating its long-haul expansion plans. In addition to the two new Europe-bound routes, Alaska will begin service to Seoul Incheon in September and add 787 flights to Tokyo Narita in January 2026. A new route to Rome is also scheduled for May 2026.

By 2030, Alaska Airlines aims to serve at least 12 intercontinental destinations from Seattle. The planned London Heathrow launch comes on the same day that Indian LCC IndiGo also confirmed its intention to open a new route to the UK’s busiest gateway.