Alaska Airlines is due to begin two daily routes from the American city of Seattle, one to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and the second to Reykjavík-Keflavík International Airport (KEF) in Iceland, as part of its new international expansion.
Alaska Airlines: Connecting Seattle to Europe
London and Reykjavík join Alaska Airlines’ list as the fourth and fifth out of 12 destinations that the airline aims to serve from Seattle by the year 2030. The flights are scheduled to begin in Spring 2026, with flights to London Heathrow being served by the airline’s branded widebody Boeing 787-9 aircraft, containing 34 private Business Class suites with lie-flat seating.
The airline hopes to connect its passengers in the Pacific Northwest to the UK capital, as well as those in Alaska and Hawaii (via Hawaiian Airlines, its subsidiary). These conveniently timed connections, in addition to agreements with American Airlines and British Airways, will provide passengers with greater connectivity and a premium travel experience. The airline also says the route will serve as an alternative for passengers looking for more frequent connections, greater premium seat capacity and the ability to earn rewards using its loyalty programme.
Reykjavík, in Iceland, is the other new destination shared by the airline in this announcement, a bucket list destination for many travellers eager to explore its natural beauty, hot springs and unique atmosphere, which earns it the title of “The Land of Fire and Ice”. Flights to the Icelandic capital will also fly daily, operated using Boeing 737-MAX aircraft, chosen for their suitability for long-range flying.
Ben Minicucci, CEO of Alaska Airlines, gave the following statement on the new European routes:
“With these bold moves, we are accelerating our vision to connect our guests to the world. We are seizing this moment to redefine the international experience and level up. And we’re doing it with the same relentless focus on safety, care and performance that’s always defined us. I’m so proud of how our people continue to step up and deliver as we push ahead on these initiatives, with even more to come.”
New Routes, New Livery
As Alaska Airlines expands its selection of European and Asian destinations, the brand will also undergo a makeover. Whilst the Alaska brand will remain, the airline’s Boeing 787-9 aircraft will all receive a new exterior design (livery) starting in January 2026. Inspired by the Northern Lights, the new aircraft design will feature flowing green and blue waves extending out from the tail along the body of the aircraft that perfectly represent the natural phenomenon that Alaska is famous for. By Spring, the airline hopes to add the design to all of its Dreamliner aircraft in its fleet. Andrew Harrison, Chief Commercial Officer for the airline, spoke on the new design briefly:
“Our new 787 exterior embodies Alaska’s transition to a global airline with beauty, grace and a nod to our heritage. As we significantly expand to new destinations around the globe, we’re eager for more and more travelers to recognize our new livery as being Alaska Airlines and appreciate the outstanding service we’ve long been known for.”
Will you be travelling between London or Reykjavík and Seattle on Alaska’s new routes next year? Let us know in the comments.
