Alaska Airlines will soon launch a new non-stop route from Seattle to Seoul Incheon with Hawaiian Airlines. With Seattle quickly transforming into the premier travel hub on the West Coast, further flights to Tokyo Narita are also set for May 12, with more soon to be announced. Due to take flight September 12 2025, customers can expect to travel in comfort via long-haul, widebody Airbus A330-200 aircraft between the South Korean capital and Seattle.
Some details on the new route
The flights are scheduled as follows (local time):
- Outbound (Seattle to Seoul Incheon)
- Departure: 15:25
- Arrival: 18:50 (+1)
- Days of operation: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
- Return (Seoul Incheon to Seattle)
- Departure: 20:50
- Arrival: 15:00
- Days of operation: Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Alaska Airlines’ Seattle hub is the largest of its kind on the West Coast. Servicing 104 nonstop destinations across North America, the airline’s ambition doesn’t end there. By 2030, Alaska Airlines hopes to serve at least 12 nonstop international destinations with widebody aircraft from Seattle, including Seoul Incheon, Tokyo Narita and beyond. The Seoul line is to launch just before the start of Chuseok, an important and festive holiday known as Korean Thanksgiving Day. The new link between the Pacific Northwest and South Korea should give ample time for travellers to prepare to visit family and friends in South Korea, while getting to enjoy Hawaiian’s famous service and hospitality.
The other side of the coin
Andrew Harrison, Chief Commercial Officer at Alaska Airlines, said:
“With our robust network, we can connect our guests through our global gateway in Seattle for convenient nonstop service to Seoul and Tokyo, with additional connections to other Asian destinations with our global partners. As we grow our global network from Seattle in the coming years, we’ll announce new international routes to dynamic destinations that we know our guests are going to love to visit.”
However, not everyone is as excited about the announcement. Local media warns that the general exodus of the long-haul ambitions of the Hawaiian islands is being displaced. Despite the fact that Honolulu-Seoul remains bookable, it may follow the same pattern of Honolulu-Narita—quietly replaced by the new service. Though housing Hawaiian’s Dreamliners, Honolulu may slowly be losing its edge over competitors.
Furthermore, there are reports that Japan Airlines is in talks to allow Alaska to take part in its trans-Pacific alliance with American Airlines. Senior officials of American says that “There are obvious challenges” to the project, but hopes to get to “the stage where we can make a solid announcement”.
For many, this new venture breathes life and comfort into long-haul trans-Pacific flights. With Alaska Air Group having ownership of both Alaska and Hawaiian airlines and an ambitious airline hub in Seattle, they look poised to reap the rewards of such a critical route. Others seem less excited. What do you think?
