Alaska Airlines to Fly to Rome Next Year in Europe Debut
Photo Credit: An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max. Alaska Airlines / Alaska Airlines
Skift Take
Based on what we saw during Alaska’s investor day in December, expect more routes to Europe and Asia, including London, Paris, Bangkok, and Ho Chi Minh City.
Alaska Airlines announced Tuesday that it plans to fly from Seattle to Rome, marking the carrier’s first route to Europe.
Flights will begin in May 2026 and go on sale this fall. Alaska said it would operate the route four times a week using a Boeing 787-9.
The new destination is part of Alaska’s strategy to expand into the international market following its merger with Hawaiian Airlines. Through the merger, Alaska acquired Hawaiian’s widebody fleet, which includes Boeing 787s and Airbus A330s.
In order to operate the route, Alaska needs approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to have its combined fleet from Hawaiian on a single operating certificate. Alaska said it expects to receive the approval in the fall.
Customers also have the opportunity to join an early-access list to be notified when flights can be purchased.
Alaska's International Ambitions
Italy is one of the most popular tourist destinations for Americans, and U.S. airlines have recently been adding more routes to the country. Both United Airlines and Delta Air Lines added routes to Sicily. American Airlines also expanded its schedule to Italy, increasing flights to Rome, Naples, and Venice.
Alaska said Rome is not currently served by a nonstop flight from Seattle, and the Italian city was among the most-requested destinations for members of the carrier’s loyalty program, MileagePlan.
The Seattle-based carrier had been eyeing a European expansion for some time. CEO Ben Minicucci said during a Wings Club event in New York in March that Europe was “definitely on the radar for 2026.”
During Alaska’s investor day in December, executives presented a map with multiple international destinations to Europe and Asia. That map included London, Paris, and Rome, along with Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City.
In May, Alaska debuted flights from Seattle to Tokyo and plans to launch a route to Seoul in September.
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