The American airline Alaska Airlines will start flying from Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA) in the U.S. to Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino International Airport (FCO) in Rome, Italy, in May 2026 and tickets will be available for purchase starting in autumn this year.
Alaska Airlines Connecting the Emerald City with the Eternal City
Rome is the largest European destination that is not currently served nonstop from Seattle. It is also one of the most highly requested destinations for the airline’s Mileage Plan members, with the new flights being the first ever to connect Seattle and Rome directly. The new flights will also provide one-stop access for passengers along the West Coast of the U.S. as well as Hawaii, through its local subsidiary, Hawaiian Airlines. Flights to Rome will be available for purchase on the Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines websites when fares go on sale in autumn. The new route comes as part of Alaska Airlines’ “Alaska Accelerate” strategy: a three-year plan to deliver 1 billion USD in profit after its merger with Hawaiian Airlines. The airline aims to transform Seattle into a global gateway for the West Coast, with Rome being the third international destination served by twin-aisle aircraft from Seattle. It joins Tokyo Narita Airport (NRT) in Japan, which launched on May 12, and Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN) in South Korea, which will launch on September 12. Seattle-Rome flights will be operated on a Boeing 787-9 (Dreamliner) aircraft, and will operate according to the following schedule:
- Seattle-Rome: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays. Departs Seattle at 18:00 local time and arrives in Rome at 13:45 local time on the following day.
- Rome-Seattle: Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays. Departs Rome at 15:45 local time and arrives in Seattle at 18:00 local time.
Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci celebrated the upcoming route with the following statement:
“Serving Rome nonstop from Seattle is a dream come true. As an Italian-American whose parents emigrated from Italy, this is a particularly meaningful addition to our network. Rome has been at the top of the list ever since we announced our new global gateway out of Seattle. Our guests have been asking for an easy way to get to Italy for years, and we’re thrilled to provide it to people in the Northwest and beyond. Andiamo – let’s go!”
Discovering La Bella Vita
Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino International Airport (FCO) is located in central Italy, serving the capital city and acting as a gateway for Southern Europe and the Mediterranean. Serving more than 230 destinations across 80 countries, it also boasts convenient transport links into the city as well as connections to Milan, Venice, Florence, Naples, Palermo and many more. Rome is also home to Civitavecchia, the second-largest cruise port in Europe. The airport itself is undergoing a 9 billion euro expansion as it aims to uphold the standard of being one of only 12 SkyTrax 5-Star hub airports in the world. Ivan Bassato, Chief Aviation Officer at Aeroporti di Roma, expressed his delight at Alaska Airlines’ new route:
“We are immensely proud that Alaska Airlines has chosen Rome as its first destination in Europe. This decision confirms the strategic relevance of our airport as a global hub for air connectivity. For the first time in history, Italy will be directly connected to Seattle, further strengthening ties with the U.S. West Coast and the broader Pacific region. Today, Fiumicino ranks among the leading European airports in terms of direct flights to North America, consolidating its key role in intercontinental traffic flows.”
Rome and the surrounding area has a wealth of history, art, culture and culinary experiences for travellers to explore; as well as the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain and the Roman Forum, the Vatican is just moments away with its stunning architecture and unparalleled atmosphere as the Catholic capital of the world. The city of Rome has recently undergone renovation in preparation for 2025 being the Jubilee Year, one that is holy within the Catholic Church. Tourist sites have been refreshed and are ready for the millions of visitors and pilgrims descending upon Rome this year.
Will you be taking advantage of Alaska Airlines’ new route from the West Coast to Rome? Are you counting down the days until your next Mediterranean getaway? Let us know down below!
