Alaska Airlines marks a major milestone in its international expansion by beginning service to London today. Serving Reykjavík will follow on May 28, just weeks after the launch of a non-stop service to Rome.
Alaska Airlines’ premier lounge, scheduled to open in late 2027 at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, will be one of the largest in the country and will feature a two-level, world-class experience designed to drive international growth. It is part of a multi-million dollar investment in the expansion of the company’s waiting lounge offerings.
SEATTLE, May 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Alaska Airlines today launched daily non-stop service between Seattle and London Heathrow, strengthening both its position as the world’s fourth largest airline in the United States and its international network. This continued service to the second European destination inaugurated this year by Alaska Airlines begins just before a traditionally busy summer season. Last month, the airline launched its first ever transatlantic route to Rome and, from May 28, it will serve non-stop Reykjavík, Iceland.
Alaska Airlines 787 global livery
“With these new routes between the West Coast and Europe, we are focused on providing a meaningful experience that is the hallmark of Alaska Airlines: warm, caring, and premium interactions,” said Andrew Harrison, Chief Commercial Officer, Alaska Airlines. “For our customers in the United States, we’re opening more convenient access to Europe with the airline they know and love, and for our customers in Europe and beyond, we’re bringing the West Coast’s signature sense of welcome to every step of the journey for enjoy our usual standards of comfort and attention. »
Alaska Airlines’ daily service is operated from Terminal 3 at London Heathrow. For U.S.-based customers, this is an opportunity to fly directly to one of the world’s most iconic cities or take advantage of convenient connections to other destinations in Europe and beyond, offered by partner airlines and alliance members oneworld. This new route also allows travelers from the United Kingdom to explore the Pacific Northwest and continue beyond Seattle thanks to the extensive network built by Alaska Airlines on the west coast, to the Hawaiian Islands.
When traveling internationally, Alaska Lounge+ members enjoy access to preferred partner lounges around the world, including the Admirals Club at London Heathrow, while Alaska Airlines International Business Class Suite guests and alliance Sapphire or Emerald travelers oneworld can access partner lounges, regardless of their cabin class.
“Each new route launched from Heathrow offers passengers and businesses greater choice and wider connections around the world,†commented Ross Baker, Chief Customer Officer, London Heathrow Airport. “The new Alaska Airlines service to Seattle strengthens our transatlantic network and opens up new tourism and business opportunities between the UK and the US West Coast. It is by working closely with partner airlines such as Alaska Airlines that we will meet the need for passengers and businesses to connect, and keep the UK competitive globally.”
Connecting these two cities to vibrant business communities will extend beyond workers in the technology and financial sectors. The cargo capacity offered by this route will allow companies in North America and the United Kingdom to transport more goods across Alaska Airlines’ extensive network. For seafood from Alaska and Hawaii as well as for Northwest Hops hops, the capacity of the Boeing 787 and Alaska Air Cargo’s reputation for customer service will help strengthen the connection with the other side of the Atlantic.
On May 28, Alaska will launch seasonal non-stop service to Reykjavík, the third European destination in its expanding global network. This daily connection, timed to coincide with Iceland’s peak summer season, will give passengers the opportunity to travel to one of the best places in the world to view the total solar eclipse of August 2026.
From Iceland, travelers can easily take one of the connections offered by Alaska Airlines’ many partner airlines to continue exploring Europe. Icelandair, for example, provides more than 35 daily departures from the country’s capital. And thanks to Alaska Airlines’ partnership with Icelandair, customers traveling first class or with the Atmosâ„¢ Rewards Elite Gold, Platinum or Titanium program will also have access to Icelandair’s Saga Lounge at KeflavÃk International Airport.
Coming soon: Alaska Airlines’ largest historic investment in a lounge
As Alaska Airlines expands its international presence, the airline is opening a new world-class lounge at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, a keystone of its broader investment in the global customer experience.
The new Alaska Lounge, scheduled to open in late 2027, will be the largest airline lounge in Seattle and one of the largest in the country. This refined design lounge, which will extend over more than 41,000 square feet with a capacity of approximately 700 seats on two levels, will offer showers, several prestigious bars, à la carte meals and seasonal menus created by chefs: a first in the Alaska Lounge network.
The main level will accommodate Alaska Lounge members, day pass holders and first class passengers. The upper level will be reserved for long-haul international travelers, and will accommodate suite and sleeper suite passengers, as well as eligible Atmos Titanium members traveling internationally. Both floors will feature freshly prepared, locally inspired dishes, Pacific Northwest craft beers and cocktails, and house-made espresso drinks.
Located in Seattle Airport’s recently renovated Hall C, the Alaska Lounge is sure to delight with its breathtaking view of the Olympic Mountains and the runway below. The project is part of a multimillion-dollar investment by Alaska Airlines in its lounge network, including a new location in Portland that will open this summer, as well as the carrier’s first lounge in San Diego and a new, larger lounge in Honolulu, both planned for early 2028.
A more connected global journey
The Seattle show adds to the offering of international business class suites already announced by Alaska Airlines on its growing fleet of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. These suites, for which other improvements should be revealed soon, mark the beginning of Alaska Airlines’ new era in the long-haul sector, made up of routes organized to the millimeter from the doorstep to the cabin.
The suite offering, currently offered for destinations Incheon, London and Rome, will also debut on the Seattle-Tokyo route this fall to support the return of the Boeing 787 to the market. With 34 seats in International Business Class, suite passengers enjoy a refined journey: plush Filson-designed bedding, travel kits containing Salt & Stone products, multi-course meals, customizable Salt & Straw desserts and regionally inspired meals before landing.
Alaska Airlines’ exclusive new check-in lobby for suite and Atmos Titanium program passengers is now open in Seattle to give them a smooth start to their journey. The Seattle suite traveler’s lobby, which offers a unique experience with priority access to TSA (Transportation Security Agency) screening, is accessible to immediate family or up to two passengers on the same reservation. Check-in lines reserved for suite passengers and members of the Titanium program will also be implemented soon on Alaska Airlines’ main connecting platforms: Anchorage, Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles, as well as Rome, Tokyo and Seoul for international flights. That of London, already active as of today, should soon be followed by that of Reykjavík.
Passengers traveling to and from Reykjavík on a Boeing 737 MAX 8 will enjoy an exceptional experience. First class passengers will receive plush blankets designed by Filson, as well as pillows and a Filson travel case filled with Salt & Stone products. Main cabin passengers will enjoy a complimentary meal including a hot main course, a small salad and dessert, with vegetarian options available. Premium Class passengers will also be able to choose from the many snacks in Alaska Airlines’ new Premium Basket to complement their meal. The experience will be accompanied by a selection of West Coast drinks, alcoholic or not, such as Cloud Cruiser IPA from Fremont Brewing in Seattle, or Canoe Ridge chardonnay from Walla Walla (Washington).
Alaska Airlines is equipping its entire Boeing 737 MAX 8 fleet with ultra-fast Wi-Fi so passengers can stay connected for free while traveling to Reykjavík, in partnership with T-Mobile and Starlink. Alaska Airlines recently became the first airline in the world to equip its entire regional fleet with the Starlink system; Alongside Hawaiian Airlines, it will be this fall, when the installation of Starlink is completed on its Dreamliners, the first company in the United States to offer Starlink on its entire wide-body fleet.
Atmos Rewards members enjoy door-to-door connectivity that enables streaming video, navigation and messaging throughout the journey. Complimentary membership gives customers the opportunity to earn miles toward future travel on Alaska Airlines and its alliance partner airlines oneworld.
By offering new routes to Rome, London and Reykjavík, Alaska Airlines combines expanded international service with its powerful combined network with Hawaiian Airlines. Together, these investments open a new chapter in the global growth of Alaska Airlines, which aims in its own way, with comfort and care, to connect its customers to more and more regions of the world.
À propos d’Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines et Horizon Air Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group, and McGee Air Services is a subsidiary of Alaska Airlines. Our global airline has connecting hubs in Seattle, Honolulu, Portland, Anchorage, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. We pamper our customers remarkably by transporting them to more than 140 destinations in North America, Latin America, Asia, the Pacific Rim and Europe. Customers can book their travel at alaskaair.com or hawaiianairlines.com. Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines are members of the alliance oneworld. Members of our Atmos Rewards loyalty program can earn and redeem points with alliance airlines oneworld and other global partner airlines, which serve more than 1,000 destinations around the world. For more Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines news, please visit news.alaskaair.com. Alaska Air Group is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol “ALK”.
FAQÂ :
Alaska Airlines dessert-elle l’Europe ?
Yes. Alaska Airlines now offers, from its main connecting hub in Seattle, non-stop service to many European destinations, including London-Heathrow, Rome and Reykjavík, Iceland. These connections are part of the development of Alaska Airlines’ international network, and more generally of its expansion in the global long-haul sector. In association with Hawaiian Airlines, Alaska Airlines also offers international service to destinations such as Sydney, Tokyo and Seoul/Incheon, and plans to continue its global expansion.
Alaska Airlines’ daily nonstop service to London departs Seattle at 9:40 p.m. and arrives at 3:05 p.m., giving travelers time to settle in and enjoy a full evening on the town. The return flight departs London-Heathrow at 5 p.m., allowing travelers to enjoy a full morning and afternoon before heading to the airport, and arrives in Seattle at 6:50 p.m. for a smooth return with a same-day arrival.
What is the Alaska Airlines International Business Class Suite Offer?
Alaska Airlines’ International Business Class Suite offering is the airline’s new premium offering for long-haul flights, available on its fleet of Dreamliners (Boeing 787-9). It offers sleeper chairs, elaborate multi-course meals, premium bedding and travel kits, privileged lounge access and personalized service that takes care of the entire journey, from the doorstep to the cabin. These suites, for which other improvements should be revealed soon, mark the beginning of Alaska Airlines’ new era in the long-haul sector, made up of routes organized to the millimeter from the doorstep to the cabin.
Will Wi-Fi be available on flights to London?
In partnership with T-Mobile and Starlink, Alaska Airlines plans to offer free Wi-Fi throughout its fleet, including this fall in its Dreamliners (Boeing 787-9), to provide its long-haul international flights with ultra-fast and reliable connection capability.
Does Alaska Airlines offer premium economy international flights?
Today, passengers can choose from a range of experiences onboard Alaska Airlines’ long-haul widebody aircraft: Business Class Suite, Premium Class or Main Cabin, with a premium economy cabin expected to launch by 2028 to further diversify comfort options.
Where can travelers fly from London on oneworld alliance partner airlines?
From London Heathrow, travelers can reach dozens of destinations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and beyond thanks to alliance partner airlines oneworld, notably British Airways, Iberia, Finnair, Qatar Airways and Aer Lingus. The most popular cities are Paris, Madrid, Dublin, Doha (via partner airlines), as well as key destinations in Africa and India, which pave the way for very seamless connections around the world thanks to Alaska Airlines’ partnership with the alliance oneworld.
What are the benefits of the oneworld alliance for Alaska Airlines passengers traveling to or from London?
From London Heathrow Airport, travelers can directly reach hundreds of destinations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and beyond thanks to alliance partner airlines oneworld, which provide a convenient connecting service to cities such as Paris, Madrid, Dublin, Doha or other destinations in Africa and India. Thanks to Alaska Airlines joining the alliance oneworld, eligible Elite members enjoy reciprocal alliance benefits, including priority services, the ability to earn miles and access to preferred partner lounges around the world. When traveling internationally, Alaska Lounge+ members can access participating partner lounges, while customers traveling in Alaska Airlines International Business Class suites and alliance Sapphire or Emerald travelers oneworld can access lounges, regardless of their cabin class.
Beyond Seattle, can passengers connect to other cities in the United States?
Alaska Airlines’ global gateway, Seattle offers convenient connections to more than 100 destinations across the United States and North America. From London, travelers can easily reach cities on the west coast, as well as major destinations across the country, including Hawaii and Alaska.
Alaska Airlines international business class Suites cabin
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